X 



I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. | 

| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f 



MANUAL 



OF THE 




5 ♦ 



it: 




COMPILED FOR THE USE OP 



Ii\ tt\e Diocese of I^omsYil-le. J^y. 
) 

Adapted, to General Use. 



J ' 



BALTIMORE: 
Published by John Murphy & Co. 

Printers to Ilia Uoline** t7& Pope; and to tlve Archhinhop of Baltimore. 

182 Baltimore Street. 

18 7 5. 
T 



OF 



Congress 



Te^book entitled c ' Jlfanual of the Sisters of 
Charity leaving been examined by a Clergyman 
of this diocese j, We hereby cordially approve of 

its publication . © WIZ L I A M> 

• Bishop of Louisville. 



Imprimatur. 

J. Roosevelt Bayley, 

Archiep. Ba'timorensis. 

Baltimori, 30 Aug., 1S75. 



(Entirtb nrroroing ia £tt of Congrrss, in 1 1? c $t \v 1S75, bg 

John M u r p n t, 
in ilu 0flicr of tl?c librarian of Congress, at (f&as^inQicn. 



PREFACE. 

THE Manual of Devotions here presented to 
the Public was compiled chiefly to meet 
the wants of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. 
It had been suggested that such a book would 
be very acceptable to the Sisters, as it would 
give them, in one convenient volume, not only 
the Exercises usually performed in the Commu- 
nity, but also many other Prayers, Litanies, 
Xovenas, Instructions, &c, suited to the differ- 
ent festivals of the year, and to the varied wants 
or the special devotion of each person. 

A Manual of this kind, it is believed, may 
find a welcome also in other Religious Commu- 
nities, and prove itself perhaps better adapted 
to their wants than any other of the many 
Prayer Books which have been hitherto pub- 
lished in this country. 

The volume may, in fine, recommend itself 
also to persons living in the world ; and we 



6 PREFACE. 

would call their attention to it, in the hope that 
they will derive from its use encouragement and 
consolation in the practices of the spiritual life. 

And if our Lord should deign to bless this 
little book, and enable it to increase the piety of 
those who will adopt it, and smooth for them 
the path of Christian virtue or of religious per- 
fection, we shall be more than repaid for our 
labor in its compilation. 

Nazareth, Kr., May 30th, 1S75. 



Alphabetical Index. 



PA IE. 

Acts of Faith, Hope and Lore 46, 47 

Act of Kesignation to the holy "Will of God...... 40 

— of Contrition 48 

of Oblation for the Conversion of Sinners... 42 

of Consecration to the Sacred Heart 344 

of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin. 166 

of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of 

Mary. 409 

of Acceptance of Death. 501 

Acts of Faith, Hope and Love at the Approach 

of Death. 514 

An ^elus , s 58 

Agnus Dei, Prayer to be said by those who wear 

an 485 

Anima Christi 299 

Apostles' Creed..... 50 

Aspirations after Communion 300 

to the Sacred Heart 348 

. to the Holy Ghost 398 

Beads of the Sacred Heart 346 

of the Precious Blood... 328 

of the Immaculate Conception 406 

for the Dead 487 

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 611 

■ — of the Blessed Sacrament, prayers 

during the 331 

Blessing of the table. -.. 157 

7 



8 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



PAGE. 



Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception.. 406 

Communion, Devotions for 277 

Confession, Devotions for 226 

Confiteor. 54 

Consolations and Advantages of Suffering 507 

Devotions before Morning Prayers 33 

. after Night Prayers 90 

for M ass 94 

— — at Noon 164 

to the Blessed Trinity 402 

to Jesus Crucified 357 

- — to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. 306 

to the Sacred Heart 335 

to the Holy Ghost 395 

— to the Blessed Virgin 406 

to St. Joseph 439 

to St. Vincent of Paul 344 

■ to the Saints 458 

for the Sick 507 

Devout Method of hearing Mass in union with 

the Passion 133 

Examen for weekly Confession 223 

for quarterly Keview 245 

* for annual Eeview 257 

Gospel of the Passion, according to St. Matt 381 

Grant of Indulgences 13 

Hymns and Anthems 615 

Instructions for the Sick, against various tempta- 
tions. 509 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 9 

PAGE. 

Litany of the Blessed Trinity e .... 168 

of Divine Providence 399 

of the Holy Name of Jesus 76 

of the Infant Jesus , 87 

— of the Life and Passion of our Lord 196 

of the Sacred Heart 341 

of the Blessed Sacrament 191 

of the Blessed Virgin 205 

of the Immaculate Heart of Mary 410 

of the Holy Angels 181 

of St. Joseph 186 

of St. Vincent 453 

of the Saints 458 

for the Dead 175 

for a Happy Death 502 

Manner of Answering Mass 565 

Memorare 207 

■ to St. Joseph 439 

Method of Hearing Mass in Union with the Pas- 
sion 132 

of Assisting at Mass. Blessed Leonard of 

P. M 154 

Morning Prayers 33 

Night Prayers 71 

Novena to the Sacred Heart 350 

in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus 352 

in Honor of the Child Jesus 354 

— in Honor of Jesus Crucified 357 

to the Blessed Virgin 427 



10 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



PAGE. 



Novena to St. Joseph 440 

to St. Vincent of Paul 494 

Oblation of the Merits of Christ for' our Sins...... 329 

Particular Examen 165 

Passion of our Lord, according to St. Matthew... 381. 

Penitential Psalms 552 

Prayer of Union with Jesus in all our Actions... 37 
■ — before the Blessed Sacrament, after Din- 
ner 160 

at the Close of the Daily Adoration of the 

Blessed Sacrament 162 

to J-esus in the Blessed Sacrament, for 

Thursday 189 

to Jesus Suffering, for Friday t 195 

to Ask Jesus His Blessing 301 

before a Crucifix to gain a Plenary In- 
dulgence 302 

Prayers, Daily 167 

during the Exposition and Benediction 

of the Blessed Sacrament 331 

for the Stations 358 

to the Holy Ghost.' 396 

to the Blessed Trinity 402 

to the Blessed Trinity, for Sunday 167 

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin, for Saturday 203 

to the Blessed Virgin, " My Queen, my 

Mother » 39 

to the Blessed Virgin, of St. Gertrude.... 408 

to the Blessed Virgin and St. Anne 416 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 11 

PAGE. 

Prayer to our Lady of Sorrows 379 

to the Mother of Sorrows 422 

to our Lady of Lourdes 407 

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary 412 

in honor of the holy Name of Mary 41G 

to our Guardian Angel 56 

. to our Guardian Angel for Tuesday 179 

to St. Michael for Tuesday 180 

to St Joseph for Wednesday 185 

to St. Joseph, Patron of the Church. 411 

to St. Vincent, by Most Rev. M. J. Spal- 
ding 444 

to St Vincent, to obtain Humility 446 

to St. Vincent, to obtain the love of God. 447 

to St. Vincent, to obtain the love of our 

neighbor 448 

for those engaged in teaching 42 

— for one who attends the Sick 43 

to prevent sin. 44 

for the souls in Purgatory, for Monday... 173 

of St. Francis Xavier, for the conversion 

of heretics 223 

for one's Confessor 478 

to the monthly Patron 479 

for our Superiors 480 

for one's Parents 481 

for the Conversion of Persons dear to us. 482 

for the Poor , 484 

for the Souls in Purgatory 485 



1 2 ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 

PAGE 

Prayer for Counsel 487 

in time of affliction, war, &c 493 

for Rain 493 

— for renewing baptismal promises 497 

• for a happy death 502 

— for the dying. 585 

for three o'clock..... 203 

Recommendation of a soul departing 510 

Regina Cceli..* 59 

Reparation of Honor to the Sacred Heart 336 

Roman Calendar 17 

Rosary of the Blessed Virgin 209 

Seven Penitential Psalms 552 " 

Short Act of Contrition 493 

Acts for the Sick 517 

Spirit Creator 395 

Stabat Mater 423 

Stations, or the Way of the Cross 358 

Te Deum 489 

Thoughts, that may serve for subjects of Medi- 
tation 62 

Three Offerings to the Blessed Trinity 404 

Three Prayers with three a Ave Maria." 415 

Trisagion 402 

Yeni Creator 395 

Vespers, or the Evening Office 569 

Viaticum, Devotions for the reception of the 

Holy 520 

Visit to the Blessed Sacrament 306 

"Way of the Cross 358 



Grant of Indulgences to the Sisters of 
Charity in Kentucky. 



AT an audience of His Holiness held December 
4th, 1826, at the humble petition of the Kt. 
Eev. John B. M. David, Bishop of Mauricastro, 
Coadjutor Bishop of Bardstown, and Superior of the 
Society of the Sisters of Charity in the Diocese of 
Bardstovrn ; our most holy Father, by divine Provi- 
dence, Pope Leo XII, on supplication made by me, the ■ 
undersigned, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for 
the Propagation of the Faith, has graciously granted 
both to the Superior for the time being, and to the 
Sisters of said Society, the follov/ing favors : 

1. He has declared the Altar of the chapel at their 
residence, called Nazareth, perpetually privileged for 
the souls of the Sisters deceased, and also of the pupils 
who have died at Nazareth, and of the benefactors of 
the Society. 

2. He has likewise granted a perpetual Plenary 
Indulgence, applicable, by way of suffrage, to the 
souls detained in Purgatory, to the Sisters and pupils 
of the same* establishment, after contrite confession 
and Holy Communion, on the Feasts of St. Vincent 
of Paul, their Founder; St. John the Baptist: both 
Festivals of the Chair of St. Peter; those of the 
Conversion of St. Paul ; the Discovery and Exaltation 
of the Holy Cross; the Guardian Angels; Sts. Catha- 
rine of Sienna, Agnes, Martyr, Francis of Sales, Mary 

1o 
O 



14 GRANT OF INDULGENCES. 



Magdalen, Jane Frances cle Chantal ; also on the 
Feasts of the holy Women, whose names they have 
taken in Baptism, or on entering the Society ; the 
clay of their first Communion and Confirmation, and 
the anniversary of each ; the day of their receiving 
the habit of the Institute, of making their vows, and 
renewal of the same; and as often as they perform, 
whether in common or in private, the Spiritual Exer- 
cises for at least three days. 

8. He has furthermore kindly granted that their 
Superior, Director and any other Priest, celebrating 
Mass for them on such days, and the clerks who servo 
at Mass*, after duly confessing their sins and receiving 
Holy Communion, may gain the same Indulgences. 

4. He has imparted to the Bishop of Mauricastro, 
the power of bestowing, three times in the year, ac- 
cording to the rightful form, the Papal Benediction 
on the Sisters, their pupils and other members of their 
household. 

5. Lastly, He has granted to the Sisters and their 
pupils, and the other members of the family, a per- 
petual Indulgence of seven years and of forty da} T s, 
as often as they shall apply themselves to mental 
prayer or spiritual reading, or the adoration of the 
Most Holy Sacrament, for the space of at least one 
quarter of an hour. 

Given the day and year aforesaid, at Home. 

Translated from the original Latin, by Rev. Wil- 
liam E. Clark. 



GRANT OF INDULGENCES. 



15 



Grant or Indulgences to the Sisters oe Charity 
in Kentucky by our Holy Father Pope Pius 
IX. 

The Bishop of Louisville humbly petitions the Holy 
Father that he would deign to grant the Indulgences 
below indicated, to the Sisters of Charity established 
in his diocese. 

1. A Plenary Indulgence on the day that they will 
take the habit in the Society, and also on the day that 
they will take the vows for the first time, if on those 
days, they shall receive the Holy Communion after 
having made their confession with contrition. 

2. A Plenary Indulgence, with the remission of all 
their sins, every time that, being contrite and having 
confessed, they shall receive with piety the Sacrament 
of the Holy Eucharist on any of the principal Feasts 
of our Lord, and of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, on 
the Feast of St. Vincent of Paul or on the Sunday 
following, and also on one Sunday in each month of 
the year, to be chosen at will, 

3. A Plenary Indulgence to all those of the said 
Society of Sisters, who, being contrite and having 
confessed, shall receive the Holy Eucharist at the 
point of death, and not being able to confess or com- 
municate, shall be at least truly repentant and invoke 
the name of Jesus with the lips, or at least with the 
heart, 

4. An Indulgence of two hundred days, every time 
they shall devoutly recite a Pater and Ave for the 



16 



GRANT OF INDULGENCES. 



Seminarians and Missionaries, on the Feasts of the 
Apostles and Roman Pontiffs. 

5. An Indulgence of seven years and as many quar- 
antines, every time the}' will piously recite a part of 
the Rosary of the Most Holy Virgin. 

6. The above named Bishop finally supplicates that 
all the above named Indulgences be applicable to the 
souls in Purgatory, and that the Bishop of Louisville 
and all his Missionaries may enjoy the above Indul- 
gences on the same conditions. 

Rome, February 22nd, Anno Domini 1853. 

We have willingly granted as a favor the Indul- 
gences above petitioned for. 

Signed, Pius P.P. IX. 

Translated from the original Italian by the Rt. 
Rev. M. J. Spalding, Bp. of Louisville. 

The Raccolta is our authority for the other Indul- 
gences indicated in this book, and the prayers to 
which they are attached are copied from it. 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



The Calendar is a Table containing the Feasts 
winch are kept during the year. They are of two 
sorts: some are affixel to certain days, and are called 
immovable ; others have no fixed days, and are called 
movable. 

The immovable feasts have been carefully distin- 
guished in the Calendar. Those which are of obliga- 
tion are printed in large capitals ; those of peculiar 
devotion in smaller ones : the others in ordinary 
round type. 

Most of the movable feasts depend upon the feast of 
Easter, which is regulated by the full moon of the 
vernal equinox. A compendious table of these feasts 
is here affixed. The first Council of Nice, held in the 
year 32o, decreed that the feast of Easter should be 
celebrated on the Sunday following the full moon, 
which falls either on the 21st of March (which was 
looked upon, at that time, as the day of the equinox), 
or on the days. following, till the 18th of April. Hence, 
if the full moon fall on the 2 1st of March, and this be 
a Saturday, the next day will be Easter Sunday. But 
if it fall on the '-'Oth, this moon will not be considered 
the paschal moon : the next full moon only, which 
will be on the 18th cf April, can be reckoned such. 
Should this 18th of April be a Sunday, Easter would 

2 



18 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



be tlie Sunday following, or the 25th of April. Easter, 
then, can be no later than the 25th of April, nor earlier 
than the 22d of March. 

The Dominical letters are used to indicate the Sun- 
days throughout the year. They are seven in number, 
corresponding to the seven days of the week, and are 
changed annually. In leap year, two are set down. 
The first indicates the Sundays till the 25th of Feb- 
ruary — the other, during the remaining part of the 
year. 

The Golden Number is contained in a cycle of 10 
years. In this cycle, the new moons return, in a regu 
lar succession, to the same days in which they were in 
the preceding cycle. Hence the different numbers of 
the Epact, which is used to designate the new moon, 
and to determine the feast of Easter, always correspond 
with the same Golden Numbers in every cycle. 



Year of 


Domi* 


Gulden 
IN urn* 
ber. 


Th.5 


Scptuag'csima 
Sunday. 


Ash 


Eis'cr 


0'ir 
Lord. 


ncd 
Letter. 


Epact. 


Wednesday. 


Sunday. 


1874 




d 


13 


12 


Feb. 


1 


Feb. 13 


April 5 


1875 


c 


14 


23 


Jan. 


24 


Feb. 10 


March 2> 


1876 


b A 


15 


4 


Feb. 


13 


March 1 


April 16 


1877 


g 
f 


16 


15 


Jan. 


23 


Feb. 14 


April 1 


1878 


17 


26 


Feb. 


17 


March G 


April 21 


1879 


c 


18 


7 


Feb. 


9 


Feb. 26 


April 13 


1830 


d c 


19 


18 


Jan. 


25 


Feb. 11 


March 23 


1881 


b 


1 




Feb. 


13 


March 2 


April 17 


1882 


A 


2 


11 


Feb. 


5 


Feb. 22 


April 9 


1883 


3 


3 


22 


Jan. 


21 


Feb. 7 


March 25 


1884 


I 0 


4 


3 


Feb. 


10 


Feb. 27 


April 13 


1885 


d 


5 


14 


Feb. 


1 


Feb. IS 


April 5 


18S6 


c 


0 


25 


Feb. 


21 


March 10 


April 25 


18S7 


b 


7 


6 


Feb. 


G 


Feb. 23 


April 10 


18S8 


A g 


8 


17 


Jan. 


29 


Feb. 15 


April 1 


1889 


f 


9 


28 


Feb. 


17 


March 6 


April 21 


'1890 


e 


10 


9 


Feb. 


2 


Feb. 19 


April 6 


1891 


d 


11 


20 


Jan. 


25 


Feb. 11 


March 29 


1892 


c b 


12 


1 


Feb. 


li 


March 2 


April 17 


1893 


A 


13 


12 


Jan. 


29 


Feb. 15 


April 2 


1894 


g 
1 


1 i 


23 


Jan. 


21 


Feb. 7 


March 25 


1895 


15 


4 


Feb. 


10 


Feb. 27 


April 14 


1896 


e d 


13 


15 


Feb. 


2 


Feb. 19 


April 5 


1897 


c 


17 


26 


Feb. 


14 


March 3 


April 18 


1898 


b 


13 


7 


Feb. 


6 


Feb. 23 


April 10 


1899 


A 


19 


18 


Jan. 


29 


Feb. 15 


April 2 


1900 


g 


1 


29 


Feb. 


11 


Feb. 23 


April 15 


1001 


t 


2* 


10 


Feb. 


3 


Feb. 20 


April 7 


1902 


c 


3 


21 


Jan. 


20 


Feb. 12 


March 30 


1903 


d 


4 


2 


Feb. 


8 


Feb. 25 


April 12 


1901: 


c b 


5 


13 


Jan. 


31 


Feb. 17 


April 3 


1905 


A 


0 


24 


Feb. 


19 


March 8 


April 23 


1906 


g 


7 


5 


Feb. 


11 


Feb. 23 


April 15 


1907 


f 


8 


16 


Jan. 


27 


Feb. 13 


March 31 


1908 


c d 


9 


27 


Feb. 


16 


March 4 


April 10 


19t 9 


c 


10 


8 


Feb. 


7 


Feb. 24 


April 11 


1910 


b 


11 


19 


Jan. 


23 


Feb. 9 


March 27 


1911 


A 


12 




Feb. 


12 


March 1 


April 10 


1912 


g f 


33 


11 


Feb. 


4 


Feb. 21 


April 7 


1913 


c 


1 1 


22 


Jan. 


10 


Feb. 5 


March 23 


1914 


d 


15 


3 


Feb. 


8 


Feb. 25 


April 12 


1915 


c 


J 0 


j ± 


Jan. 


31 


rco. li 


April 4 


1916 


b A 


17 


25 


Feb. 


20 


March 8 
Feb. 21 


April 23 


1917 


g 


13 


6 


Feb. 


4 


April 8 


1918 


f 


10 


17 


Jan. 


27 


Feb. 13 


March 31 


1919 


0 


1 


29 


Feb. 


16 


March 5 


April 20 


1920 


do 


2 


20 


Feb. 


1 


Feb. 13 


April 4 



Year of 
our 

T 1 

Li jru. 


Ascension 
Day, 


Whitsunday 


Corpus 
Christi. 


Sundays 
after 
Pentecost. 


First Sunday 
of Adveut. 




1374 


May- 


14 


May 


21 


Juno 


4 


2G 


Nov. 


29 


1875 


May 


0 


May 


1G 


May 


27 


27 


Nov. 


23 


1876 


May 


25 


June 


4 


June 


15 


25 


Dee. 


3 


1877 


May 


10 


May 


20 


May 


31 


27 


Dec. 


2 


1878 


May 


30 


June 


9 


June 


23 


21 


Dec. 


1 


1879 


May 


22 


June 


1 


June 


12 


25 


Nov. 


30 


18 SO 


May 


6 


May 


1G 


May 


27 


27 


Nov. 


23 


18 SI 


May 


2G 


June 


5 


June 


1G 


2t 


Nov. 


27 


1832 


May 


13 


May 


23 


June 


8 


23 


Dec. 




1833 


May 


3 


May 


13 


May 


2t 


23 


Doc. 


2 


1834 


May 


22 


June 


1 


June 


12 


25 


Nov. 


30 


1835 


May 


14 


May 


21 


June 


4 


2G 


Nov. 


23 


1S36 


June 


3 


June 


13 


June 


2t 


21 


Nov. 


28 


1837 


May 


19 


May 


29 


June 


9 


25 


Nov. 


27 


1838 


May 


10 


May 


29 


May 


31 


27 


Dec. 


2 


18S9 


May 


30 


June 


9 


June 


20 


21 


Dec. 


1 


1830 


May 


15 


May 


25 


June 


5 


2G 


Nov. 


30 


1891 


May 


7 


May 


17 


May 


28 


27 


Nov. 


29 


1892 


May 


2G 


June 


5 


June 


1G 


21 


Nov. 


27 


.1893 


May 


11 


May 


21 


June 


1 


27 


Dec. 


3 


1804 


May 


3 


May 


13 


May 


24 


23 


Dec. 


2 


1895 


May 


23 


June 


2 


June 


13 


25 


Dec. 


1 


1896 


May 


1 1 


May 


2t 


June 


4 


2) 


Nov. 


29 


1897 


May 


27 


June 


G 


Juno 


17 


21 


Nov. 


23 


1898 


May 


19 


May 


29 


June 


9 


25 


Nov. 


27 


1899 


May 


11 


May 


21 


June 


1 


27 


Dec. 


3 


1990 


May 


24 


June 


3 


June 


14 


25 


Dec. 


2 


1901 


May 


16 


May 


2G 


June 


G 


2 > 


Doc. 


1 


1902 


May 


8 


May 


13 


May 


29 


27 


Nov. 


39 


19 33 


May 


21 


May 


31 


June 


11 


25 


Nov. 


29 


19^4 


May 


12 


May 


22 


June 


2 


23 


Nov. 


27 


1905 


June 


1 


June 


11 


Juno 


22 


21 


Dec. 


3 


1906 


May 


21 


June 


3 


June 


11 


23 


Dec 


2 


1907 


May 


9 


May 


19 


May 


39 


27 


Dec. 


1 


1908 


May 


23 


June 


7 


June 


18 


2t 


Nov. 


29 


1909 


May 


2) 


May 


3) 


June 


G 


25 


Nov. 


23 


1910 


May 


5 


May 


15 


May 


2G 


27 


Nov. 


27 


1911 


May 


25 


June 


4 


June 


13 


25 


Dec. 


3 


1912 


May 


13 


May 


23 


June 


G 


23 


Dec. 


1 


19!3 


May 


1 


May 


11 


May 


22 


23 


Nov. 


30 


1914 


May 


21 


May 


31 


June 


11 


25 


Nov. 


23 


19 15 


May 


13 


May 


21 


June 


3 


0 • 

L. J 


Nov. 


23 


1916 


June 


1 


June 


11 


June 


22 


21 


Dec. 


3 


1917 


May 


17 


May 


27 


June 


7. 


23 


Dec. 


2 


1918 


May 


9 


May 


19 | 


May 


30 


27 


DC3. 


1 


1919 


May 


29 


Juno 


8 1 


Juno 


19 


21 


Nov. 


30 


1920 


May 


1? 


May 


23 1 


Juno 


3 


23 


Nov. 


23 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



21 



JAN U A R Y. 



1 A 


2 


b 


3 


c 


4 


d 


5 


e 


6 


f 


7 


g 


8 


A 


9 


b 


10 


c 


11 


d 


12 


e 


13 


f 


14 


S 


15 


A 


16 


b 


17 


c 


18 


ci 


19 


e 


20 


f 


21 


g 


22 


A 


23 


b 


24 


c 


25 


d 


26 


e 


27 


f 


28 


or 
o 


29 


A 


30 


b 


31 


c 



CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD. 

S. Fulgentius, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Genevieve, Virgin. 

S. Titus, Bishop of Crete. 

S. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr. 

EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD. 

S. Lucian, Priest and Martyr. 

S. Severinus, Bishop of Naples. 

SS. Julian and Basilla, Martyrs. 

S. William, Archbishop of Bourges. 

S. Hyginus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Tatiana, Martyr. 

S. Veronica of Milan, Virgin. 

S. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers. 

S. Paul, first Hermit. 

S. Marcellus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Anthony, Abbot. 

Chair of St. Peter at Rome. 

S. Canute, King of Denmark, Martyr. 

SS. Fabian and Sebastian, Martyrs. 

S. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. 

SS. Vincent and Anastasius, Martyrs. 

S. Raymond of Pennafort, Confessor. 

S. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr. 

Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. 

S. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr. 

S. John Clirysostom, Bishop and Doctor. 

S. Flavian, Martyr. 

S. Francis of Sales, Bishop. 

S. Martina, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Peter Noiasco, Confessor. 



On the second Sunday after Epiphany, the Most 
Holy Name of Jesus. 



22 



TIIE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



FEBRUARY. 



1 


d 


2 


e 


3 


f 


4 


8* 


5 


A 


6 


b 


7 


c 


8 


d 


9 


e 


10 


f 


11 




12 


A 


13 


b 


14 


c 


15 


d 


16 


e 


17 


f 


18 


g 


19 


A 


20 


b 


21 


c 


22 


d 


23 


e 


24 


f 


25 


g 


26 


A 


27 


b 


28 


c 


29 


d 



S. Ignatius, Bishop and Martyr. 

Purification of the B. Virgin Mary. 

S. Blase, Bishop and Martyr. 

S. Andrew Corsini, Bishop. 

S. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Dorothy, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Romuald, Abbot. 

S. John of Matha, Confessor. 

S. Appollonia, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Scholastica, Virgin. 

SS. Saturninus and his companions, Martyrs. 

S. Meletias, Bishop of Antioch, Confessor. 

S. Catharine of Ricci, Virgin. 

S. Valentine, Priest and Martyr. 

SS Faustinus and Jovita, Martyrs. 

S. Onesimus, Bishop of Ephesus, Martyr. 

S. Theodulus, Martyr. 

S. Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem and Martyr. 

S. Mansuetus, Bishop of Milan and Confessor. 

S. Eucherius, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Severianus, Bishop and Martyr. 

Chair of St- Peter, at Antioch. 

(Vigil.) S- Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor. 

S. Matthias, Ap., in leap years or the 25th. 

S. Felix, Pope and Confessor. 

S. Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, Confessor. 

S. Leander, Bishop of Seville, Confessor. 

S. Romanus, Abbot. 

S. Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, Confessor. 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



MARCH. 



1 


a 


2 


e 


3 


f 


4 


g 


5 


A 


6 


b 


7 


c 


8 


d 


9 


e 


10 


f 


11 


g 


12 


A 


13 


b 


14 


c 


15 


d 


16 


e 


17 


f 


18 


g 


19 


A 


20 


b 


21 


c 


22 


d 


23 


e 


24 


f 


25 


g 


26 


A 


27 


b 


28 


c 


29 


d 


30 


e 


31 


f I 



S. Albinos, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Simplicius, Pope and Confessor. 

S. Cunegundes, Virgin. 

S. Casiniir, Confessor. 

S. Phocas, Martyr. 

SS. Victor and companions, Martyrs. 

S. Thomas of Aquino, Confessor and Doctor. 

S. John of God, Confessor. 

S. Frances, Widow. 

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. 

S. Eulogius, Priest and Martyr. 

S. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor. 

S. Euphrasia, Virgin. 

S. Mathilda, Widow. 

S. Longinus, Martyr. 

S. Abraham, Hermit. 

S. Patrick, Bishop, Apostle of Ireland. 

S. Gabriel, Archangel. 

S. Joseph, Spouse of the B. V. Mary. 

S. Cuthbert, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Benedict, Abbot. 

S. Basil, Prie3t and Martyr. 

S. Turibius, Bishop of Lima, Confessor. 

Simon, an infant Martyr at Trent. 

ANNUNCIATION OF THE B. V. MARY. 

S. Ludger, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. John, Hermit. 

S. Gunt ran, King and Confessor. 

S. Cyrillus, Deacon and Martyr. 

S. John Climacus, Abbot. 

S. Balbina, Virgin. 



On Friday before Palm Sunday, the feast of the Com- 
passion of tke Blessed Virgin Maby. 



24 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



APRIL. 



1 




2 


A 


3 


b 


4 


c 


5 


d 


6 


e 


7 


f 


8 




9 


A 


10 


b 


11 


c 


12 


d 


13 


e 


14 


f 


15 


o 


16 


A 


17 


b 


18 


c 


19 


cl 


20 


e 


21 


f 


22 


g 


23 


A 


24 


b 


25 


c 


26 


d 


27 


e 


28 


f 


29 


g 


30 


A 



S. Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble, Confessor. 

S. Francis of Paula, Confessor. 

S. Richard, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Isidore, Bishop of Seville, and Doctor. 

S. Vincent Ferrier, Confessor. 

S. Celestine I, Pope and Confessor. 

S. Hegesippus, Confessor. 

S. Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth. 

S. Mary Cleophas, Sister of the B. V. Mary. 

S. Macarius, Bishop of Antioch, Confessor. 

S. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor. 

S. Victor, Martyr. 

S. Hermenegild, Martyr. 

SS. Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, MM. 

SS. Basilissa and Anastasia, Martyrs. 

S. Lambert, Martyr. 

S. Anicetus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Perfectus, Priest and Martyr. 

S. Timon, Deacon and Martyr. 

S. Agnes, Virgin. 

S. Anselm, Bishop of Canterbury and Doctor. 
SS. Soter and Cains, Popes aud Martyrs. 
S. George, Martyr. 
S. Fidelis. Martyr. 

S. Mark, the Evangelist. — The great Litany. 

SS. Cletus and Marceliinus, Popes and MM. 

S. John, Abbot and Confessor. 

S. Vitalis, Martyr. 

S. Peter, Martyr. 

S. Catharine of Sienna, Virgin. 



On the third Sunday after Easter, Patronage of St. 
Joseph. » 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 25 



MAY. 



1 


h 


2 


c 


3 


d 


4 


e 


5 


f 


6 


g 


7 


A 


8 


b 


9 


c 


10 


d 


11 


e 


12 


f 


13 


g 


14 


A 


15 


b 


16 


c 


17 


d 


18 


e 


19 


f 


20 


g 


21 


A 


22 


b 


23 


c 


24 


d 


25 


e 


20 


f 


27 


g 


28 


A 


29 


b 


30 


c 


31 


d 



SS. Philip and James, Apostles. 

S. Athanasius, Bisliop of Alexandria, Doctor. 

Finding of the Holy Cross. 

S. Monica, Widow. 

S. Pius V., Pope and Confessor. 

S. John the Apostle, before the Latin Gate. 

S. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr. 

Apparition of S. Michael, the Archangel. 

S. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishop and Doctor. 

S. Antoninus, Bishop of Florence. 

S. Mamertus, Bishop of Vienna, Confessor. 

SS. Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs. 

S. John the Silent, Hermit. 

S. Boniface, Martyr. 

SS. Torquatus and his companions, Martyrs. 

S. Ubald, Bishop. 

S. Paschal, Confessor. 

S. Venantius, Martyr. 

S. Peter Celestine, Pope. 

S. Bernardin of Sienna, Confessor. 

S. Valens, Bishop and Martyr. 

S. John Nepomucen, Martyr. 

S. Desiderius, Bishop and Martyr. 

Feast of B. V. Mary, as Help of Christians. 

S. Gregory VII., Pope and Confessor. 

S. Philip of Neri, Confessor. 

S. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Virgin. 

S. Germanus, Bishop of Paris, Confessor. 

S. Maximus, Bishop of Triers, Confessor. 

S. Felix, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Petronilla, Virgin. 



On Friday next to the Octave of Corpus Christi, the 
feast of the Sacked Heart of Jesus. 



2G 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



JUNE. 



1 


e 


2 


f 


3 




4 


A 


5 


b 


6 


c 


7 


d 


8 


e 


9 


f 


10 


o 


11 


A 


12 


b 


13 


c 


14 


d 


15 


e 


16 


f 


17 




18 


A 


19 


b 


20 


c 


21 


d 


22 


e 


23 


f 


24 


S 


25 


A 


26 


b 


27 


c 


28 


d 


29 


e 


30 


f 



S. Pamphilus, Priest and Martyr. 

SS. Marcellinus, Peter, and Erasmus, MM. 

S. Clotildis, Queen of France. 

5. Francis Caracciolo, Confessor. 

6. Boniface, Bishop, Apostle of G ermany. 
S. Norbert, Bisliop of Magdeburgh. 

S. Robert, Abbot. 

S. Medardus, Bishop and Confessor. 

SS. Primus and Felicianus, Martyrs. 

S. Margaret, Queen of Scotland. 

S. Barnabas, Apostle. 

S. John of St. Fagondez, Confessor. 

S. Anthony of Padua, Confessor. 

S. Basil the Great, Bishop and Doctor. 

SS. Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia, Martyrs. 

S. John Francis Regis, Confessor. 

S. Avitus, Priest and Confessor. 

SS. Marcus and Marcellianus, Martyrs. 

S. Juliana Falconieri, Virgin. 

S. Silverius, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Aloysius Gonzaga, Confessor. 

S. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola. 

Vigil of Nativity of S. John the Baptist. 

Nativity of S. John the Baptist. 

S. William, Abbot. 

SS. John and Paul, Martyrs. 

S. Crescent, Bishop and Martyr. 

(Vigil.) S. Irenssus, Bishop and Martyr. 

SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles. 

Commemoration of S. Paul. 



The feast of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul is solem- 
nized on the Sunday within the Octave. 



TFIE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



27 



1 

1 


S 


■t 


A 


Q 


D 


A 

4: 


C 


0 


& 


a 
O 


e 


7 


-p 


o 
o 


g 


Q 


A 




D 


11 


C 


1/5 


a 


Id 


e 


14 
lrr 


-p 
i 


10 


g 


1 ft 
10 


A 

A 


1 / 


■u 
D 


lo 


C 


iy 


j 

a 


on 


e 




•p 
i 


00 


g 


OQ 


A 

A 


24 


b 


25 


c 


26 


d 


27 


e 


28 


f 


29 




30 


A 


31 


b 



JULY. 



Octave of S. Jolm tlie Baptist. 

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

SS. Eulogius and bis companions, Martyrs. 

S. Flavian, Bishop of Antiocb. 

S. Atbanasins, Deacon, Martyr. 

Octave of SS. Peter and Paul, 

S. Leo II., Pope and Confessor. 

S. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. 

S. Cyrillus, Bishop of Gortyna, Martyr. 

The Seven Brothers, Martyrs. 

S. Pius I., Pope and Martyr. 

S. John Gkialbert, Abbot. 

S. Anacletus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor. 

S. Henry, Emperor, Confessor. 

Our Ladt oe Mount Carmel. 

S. Alexius, Confessor. 

S. Camillus of Lellis, Confessor. 

S. Vincent of Paul, Confessor. 

S. Jerome iEmilian, Corj£es&or. 

S. Praxedes, Virgin. 

S. Mary Magdalen. 

S. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr. 

(Vigil.) S. Christina, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. James the Apostle. 

S. Ann, Mother of the Blessed Virgin. 

S. Pantaleon, Martyr. 

SS. Nazarius, Celsus, and others, Martyrs. 

S. Martha, Virgin. 

SS. Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs. 

S. Ignatius, Founder of the Society of Jesus. 



On the first Sunday of July, feast of the most precious 
blood of our Lord. 



23 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



AUGUST. 



1 


c 


2 


d 


o 
o 


e 


4 


f 


5 


g 


6 


A 


7 


b 


8 


c 


9 


a 


10 


e 


11 


f 


12 


g 


13 


A 


14 


b 


15 


c 


16 


d 


17 


e 


18 


f 


19 


R 


20 


A 


21 


b 


22 


c 


23 


d 


24 


e 


25 


f 


26 


o* 


27 


A 


28 


b 


20 


c 


30 


d 


31 


e 



S. Peter's Chains. 

S, Alphonsus M. Liguori, Bishop. 

Finding of the Relics of S. Stephen, first Mar 

S. Dominic, Confessor. 

Dedication of S. Mary, ad Nives. 

Transfiguration op our Lord. 

S. Cajetan, Confessor. 

SS. Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, MM. 

S. Romanus, Martyr. 

S. Lawrence, Martyr. 

SS. Tiburtius and Susanna, Martyrs. 

S. Clara, Virgin. 

SS. Hippolytus and Cassianus, Martyrs. 

(Vigil with fast.) S. Easebius, Confessor. 

ASSUMPTION OF THE B. V. MARY. 

S. Hyacinthus, Confessor. 

Octave of S. Lawrence. 

S. Agapitus, Martyr. 

S. Lewis, Bishop of Toulouse, Confessor. 

S. Bernard, Abbot and Dv)ctor. 

S. Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow. 

Octave of the Assumption. 

(Vigil.) S. Philip Beniti, Confessor. 

S. Bartholomew, Apostle. 

S. Louis, King of France, Confessor. 

S. Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Joseph Calasanctius, Confessor. 

S. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor. 

Beheading of S. John the Baptist. 

S. Rose of Lima, Virgin. 

S. Raymund Nonnatus, Confessor. 



On the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption, 
the feast of S. Joachim, the Father of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary. 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR, 



2D 



SEPTEMBER 



1 f 

2 g 

3 | A 
4| b 
5 I c 



6 
7 

8 
9 

10 
11 
12 
13 d 
14 



15 
10 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 



e 
f 

g 
A 

b 

c 
d 
e 
f 

g 
A 

b 

c 

d I 
e 



291 f 
30|g 



S. Giles, Abbot. 

S. Stephen, King of Hungary, Confessor. 
S. Simeon Stylites, Confessor. 
S. Rosalia, Virgin. 

S. Lawrence Justinian, Bishop of Venice. 
S. Onesiphorus, Martyr. 
S. Regina, Virgin and Martyr. 
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
S. Gorgonius, Martyr. 
S. Nicholas Tolentine, Confessor. 
SS. Protus and Hyacinthus, Martyrs. 
S. Juven tius, Bishop and Doctor. 
S. Amatus, Abbot. 
Exaltation of the Holy Cross. 
S. Nicomedes, Martyr. 
SS. Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, M. I 
Stigmata of S. Francis of Assisi. 
S. Joseph of Cupertino, Confessor. 
SS. Januarius, Bishop, and companions, MM. 
(Vigil.) SS. Eustachius and companions, MM. 
S. Matthew, Apostle. 
S. Thomas of Villanova, Confessor. 
S. Linus, Pope and Martyr. 
Our Lady of Mercy. 
S. Cleophas, Martyr. 
SS. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs. 
SS. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs. 
S Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia, Martyr. 
S. Michael the Archangel. 
S. Jerome, Priest and Doctor. 



On the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, the 
feast of the Holy Name of Mary; and on the* third 
Sunday, the feast of the Seven Doloks. 



30 



TEE ROMAN" CALENDAR. 



OCTOBER. 



9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
23 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 



S. Remigius, Bishop of Rlieiras. 

The Holy Guardian Angels. 

S. Candidus, Martyr. 

S. Francis of Assisi, Confessor. 

SS. Placidus and companions, Martyrs. 

S. Bruno, Confessor. 

S. Mark, Pope and Confessor. 

S. Bridget, Widow. 

SS. Dionysius and companions, Martyrs. 

S. Francis Borgia, Confessor. 

S. Germanus, Bishop and Martyr. 

S. Wilfrid, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Edward, King of England, Confessor. 

S. Callistus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Teresa, Virgin. 

S. Lullus, Bishop of Mentz. 

S. Hedwigis, Widow. 

S. Luke the Evangelist. 

S. Peter of Alcantara, Confessor. 

S. John Can tins, Confessor. 

S. Hilarion, Ab. ; SS. Ursula and comp., MM. 

S. Mark, Bishop of Jerusalem, Martyr. 

S. Ignatius, Bishop of Constantinople, Martyr. 

S. Raphael, the Archangel. 

SS. Chrysanthus and Daria, Martyrs. 

S. Evaristus, Pope and Martyr. 

Vigil of SS. Simon and Jnde. 

SS. Simon and Jude, Apostles. 

S. Theoclorus. Abbot. 

S. Serapion, Bishop and Confessor. 

Vio-il of All Saints, with fast. 



The first Sunday of October, the feast of the Holy 
Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and on 
the third Sunday, the feast of her Maternity. 



THE ROMAN CALENDAR. 



31 



NOVEMBER. 



1 


d 


2 




3 


f 


4 


o 


5 


A 


6 


b 


7 


c 


8 


d 


9 


e 


10 


f 


11 


g 


12 


A 


13 


b 


14 


c 


15 


d 


16 


e 


17 


f 


18 


g 


10 


A 


20 


b 


21 


c 


22 


d 


23 


e 


24 


f 


25 


<T 

o 


2G 


A 


27 


b 


28 


c 


29 


d 


30 


e 



FEAST OF ALL SAINTS. 

Commemoration of All Souls. 

S. Malachy, Bishop of Armagh. 

S. Charles Borromeo, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Elizabeth, Mother of S. John the Baptist. 

S. Leonard, Hermit. 

S. Engelbert, Bishop and Martyr. 

Octave of All Saints. 

Dedication of the Lateran Church. 

S. Andrew Avellino, Confessor. 

S. Martin, Bishop of Tours. 

S. Martin, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Didacus, Confessor. 

S. Stanislaus Kostka, Confessor. 

S. Gertrude, Virgin. 

S. Edmund, Bishop and Confessor. 

S. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop. 

Dedication of Churches of SS. Peter and Paul. 

S. Elizabeth of Hungary, Widow. 

S. Felix of Valois, Confessor. 

Presentation of the B. Virgin Mary. 

S. Csecilia, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Clement, Pope and Martyr. 

S. John of the Cross, Confessor. 

S. Catharine, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Peter, Bishop of Alexandria. 

S. Severinus, Hermit. 

S. Gregory III., Pope and Confessor. 

(Vigil.) S. Saturninus, Martyr. 

S. Andrew the Apostle. 



On the second Sunday of November, the feast of the 
Patronage of B. V. *M. The first Sunday of Advent 
is the next after the 20th day of November. 

j 



32 



THE ROM AN CALENDAR 



DECEMBER. 



1 


f 


2 


g 


.» 

o 


A 


4 


b 


5 


c 


6 


d 


7 


e 


8 


f 


9 


g 


10 


A 


11 


1.) 


12 


c 


13 


d 


14 


e 


15 


f 


1G 


g 


1? 


A 


18 


b 


19 


c 


20 


d 


21 


e 


22 


f 


23 


g 


24 


A 


25 


b 


,26 


c 


(27 


d 


28 


e 


29 


f 


30 


S 


31 


A 



S. Eligius, Bisliop and Confessor. 

S. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Francis Xavier, Confessor, 

S. Peter Chrysologus, Bisliop and Doctor. 

S. Sabbas, Abbot, 

S. Nicholas, Bisliop of Myra. 

S. Ambrose, Bisliop of Milan, Doctor. 

Immaculate Conception of B. V. Mary.* 

S. Leocadia, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Melcliiades, Pope and Martyr 

S. Damasus, Pope and Martyr. 

S. Synesins, Martyr. 

S. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr. 

S. Spiridion, Bishop and Confessor. 

Octave of the Immacul. Concep. of B. V. M. 

S. Eusebius, Bishop and Martyr. 

S. Olympian, Widow. 

Expectation of the Delivery of the B. V. M. 

S. Timothy, Deacon and Martyr. 

(Vigil.) S. iDominick, Abbot. 

S. Thomas, the Apostle. 

S. Ischyrion, Martyr. 

S. Victoria, Virgin and Martyr. 

Vigil with Fast. 

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD. 

S. Stephen, first Martyr. 

S. John, Apostle and Evangelist. 

Holy Innocents. 

S. Thomas, Bishop of Canterbury, Martyr. 
S. Sabinus, Bishop, and companions, Martyrs 
S. Sylvester, Pope and Confessor. 



* The B. V. Mary " conceived without sin," is the 
patroness of the U. States. The feast of the Concep- 
tion is solemnized on the Sunday within the octave. 



DEVOTIONS 

BEFORE 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



The following arc the Community Exercises. 



At this time, each one is at liberty to follow the 
inclination of her own peculiar turn of piety ; yet, 
these little devotions may be useful and suggestive. 

At the first sound of the bell, which is for you the 
voice of God, prostrate yourself in spirit before the 
tabernacle, make the sign of the Cross, recall to mind 
the subject of the meditation and say : 



ESUS, Mary and Joseph, I give 



fj you my heart and my soul ! 
Good Jesus, take me into Thv Sacred 
Heart; suffer me to dwell therein. 
All for Thee, 0 my God! All in 
union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 
for Thy greater honor and most pure 
love ! 



(They can te used to advantage by others.) 




3 



34 



DEVOTIONS BEFORE 



"When taking Holy Water : 

WASH me, 0 my Jesus ! in Thy 
own precious blood, and I 
shall be made whiter than snow. 
Purify my soul from every stain of 
sin. 

Or: 

Blood of Jesus, wash me ! Water 
from the side of Jesus, purify me, 
that I may be prepared to dwell in 
His adorable heart! 

"When putting on your shoes : 

GRANT, 0 my God! that every 
step I take, this day and 
throughout my life, may be guided 
by Thy will and bring me nearer to 
Thee ! 

Whilst dressing : 

GLOTHE me, 0 my God! with 
the mantle of innocence and 
the robe of charity. Permit not that 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



35 



I appear stripped of good works, be- 
fore Thy face. 

Putting on the habit, kiss it with affection and say : 

I AM unworthy, 0 my Jesus ! to 
be clothed in the livery of Thy 
spouses ; yet, give me the grace to 
wear it faithfully until death, and 
grant that the sentiments of my heart 
may be worthy of Thee and of my 
vocation. 

Kneeling by the bedside : 

OMY God, I cast myself humbly 
in adoration before Thee. I 
thank Thee for having preserved me 
during the night, for giving me an- 
other day to love, praise and serve 
Thee. I offer to Thee my whole 
being: my soul with all its powers; 
my heart with all its affections and 
inclinations ; my mind with all its 
faculties ; all my thoughts, words and 



36 



DEVOTIONS BEFORE 



actions, in union with the adorable 
Heart of Jesus, and with the inten- 
tion of gaining whatever indulgences 
may be attached to them. Grant me 
wisdom, prudence and love, that I 
may do all Thou requirest of me, 
and offer no obstacle to Thy grace. 
Bestow upon me and every member 
of the Community, a spirit of union 
and charity, that we may all live 
and die in Thy holy love. My be- 
loved Mother, my Angel guardian, 
St. Joseph, St. Vincent, aid and guard 
me until the hour of my death. 



V-/ into my heart, by Thy grace, 
and dwell therein forever. 



Grant, my Jesus ! that I may de- 
scend deeply into my own heart, 



Going down stairs : 




deign to descend 



Or: 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



37 



discern my weakness and learn to 
trust in Thee. Amen. 



Daring the little visit to the Blessed Sacrament, 
which may be made before prayers, or whilst waiting 
for Mass, the following prayers may be said : 

A Pkaykr of Union w t ith Jesus in all our 



HATEVER I do, I will do 



under the auspices of Jesus. 



When I visit, Jesus will be before 
my eyes. When I walk, Jesus will 
be my companion. When I sit down, 
Jesus will be by my side. When I 
study, Jesus will teach me. When I 
teach, Jesus will direct me. When 
I read, Jesus will give me light and 
understanding. When I write, Jesus 
will guide my pen and my hand. 
When I pray, Jesus will form and 
animate my words. When I hunger 
or thirst, Jesus will feed and give me 



Actions. 




38 



DEVOTIONS BEFORE 



to drink. When I am sick, Jesus, my 
love, will be my physician. And 
when I die, I will die with Jesus ; 
Jesus will close my eyes, the bosom 
of Jesus will be my tomb. Amen. 

A Prayer of Submission and Confidence. 

LORD, I know not what I ought 
to ask of Thee. Thou alone 
knowest what I want ; Thou lovest 
me better than I calflove myself. 0 
Father, give to Thy child that which 
she knows not how to ask. I dare 
not ask either for crosses or consola- 
tions ; I only present myself before 
Thee ; I lay open to Thee my heart ; 
behold my necessities, and act accord- 
ing to Thy mercies ; strike or cure, 
raise up or cast down ; I adore Thy 
divine will without knowing it. I 
hold my peace ; I sacrifice and aban- 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



39 



don myself to Thee ; I have no other 
desire than to accomplish Thy divine 
will. Amen. 

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin. 

Indulgence of 100 days, to be gained once a day 
by saying the following prayer, the Hail Mary and 
ejaculation morning and evening, to obtain the aid 
of the Blessed Virgin in temptations, especially those 
against chastity. When said for a month, a plenary 
indulgence may be gained on a day at option, by 
complying with the ordinary conditions. 

"I TY Queen! my Mother! I give 
JLtJL thee all myself; and to show 
my devotion to thee, I consecrate 
to thee this day eyes, ears, mouth, 
heart, myself wholly, without reserve. 
Wherefore, good Mother, as I am 
thine own, keep me, guard me, as a 
thing of thine, thine own possession. 

Ejaculation'. 

MY Queen ! my Mother ! remem- 
ber that I am thine own. 



40 



DEVOTIONS BEFORE 



Keep me, guard me as a thing of 
thine, thine own possession. 

For the last ejaculation alone, Indulgence of 40 days 
each time it is said by one who thus seeks the aid of 
the Blessed Virgin, when attacked by temptation. 

Act of Kesignation to the Holy Will of God. 

OMY God ! I do not know what 
will happen to me to-day ; all 
that I know is, nothing can befall 
me which Thou hast not foreseen 
and ordained from all eternity ; and, 
therefore, I am resigned to all. 0 
my heavenly Father! I adore Thy 
eternal designs ; I submit to them 
with all my heart. I offer to Thee 
the entire sacrifice of my own will, 
and I unite this sacrifice to that of 
Thy dear Son, my Saviour; and I 
beseech Thee, through His infinite 
merits, to grant me, in all my trials 
and afflictions, that unalterable pa- 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



41 



tionce and perfect submission which 
are due to all Thou dost will or 
permit. Amen. 

Prayer for the Dying. 

One hundred days' Indulgence each time. When 
recited three times a day, at distinct intervals, a 
Plenary Indulgence once a month, on the ordinary 
conditions. 

MERCIFUL Jesus, Lover of 
souls ! I pray Thee, by the 
agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, 
and by the woes of Thy Immaculate 
Mother, to cleanse in Thy blood the 
sinners of the whole world who are 
now in their agony and about to die 
this day. Amen. 

Heart of Jesus, once in agony, pity 
the dying. 

Act of Oblation. 

One hundred days' Indulgence once a day; a Plen- 
ary Indulgence once a month, on the ordinary con- 



42 



DEVOTIONS BEFORE 



ditions. (To gain these Indulgences, the prayer must 
be said before an image of the Sacred Heart.) 

MY loving Jesus, I (N. JST.) give 
Thee my heart; and I con- 
secrate myself wholly to Thee, out of 
the grateful love I bear Thee, and as 
a reparation for all my unfaithfulness 
to grace ; and with Thine aid, I pur- 
pose never to sin again. 

For the Conversion of Sinners. 

INTERNAL Father! I offer Thee 
JCi the merits of the precious blood 
of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my 
Saviour and my God, for the repent- 
ance of unbelievers, the uprooting of 
heresy, and the conversion of sinners. 

Amen. 

Prayer for those Engaged in Teaching. 

THOU, 0 Lord, art my patience 
and my strength ; Thou art my 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



43 



light and my counsel; Thou subduest 
under me the little people whom Thou 
hast committed to my care. Oh ! leave 
me not one moment to myself, but 
give me, for the instruction of others 
and for my own salvation, the spirit 
of wisdom and understanding, the 
spirit of counsel and strength, the 
spirit of knowledge and piety, and, 
above all, the spirit of the fear of 
the Lord. Amen. 

Prayer for One ttho Attends the Sick. 



RAjNT, 0 my Jesus! that I may 



suffering members, committed to my 
care, and whilst, in Thy name, I 
minister to the wants of their bodies, 
strengthen and enlighten their souls. 
Restore them to health if they can 
thus labor more effectually for Thy 




see and serve Thee in Thy 



44 DEVOTIONS BEFORE MORNING PRAYERS. 



honor arid glory, or give them grace 
to suffer with profit and to die the 
death of the just. Amen. 

Prayer to Prevent Sin. 




MOST holy Virgin, 0 Mary! 
offer to the eternal Father 



the precious blood of thy divine Son 
Jesus, for that efficacious grace which 
will prevent the commission of, at 
least, one mortal sin to-day, in some 
part of the world. Amen. 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



►J<Iii the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Blessed bo the holy and undivided Trinity now 
and for ever more. Amen. 

COME, 0 Holy Ghost, replenish 
the hearts of Th} 7 faithful and 
kindle in them the fire of Thv 
divine love. Impress our minds 
with the respect and attention 
which we owe to the presence of 
our God, our Father, and our 
Judge, before Whom we presume 
to appear and to Whom we dare to 
offer up our prayers, whereas we 
are but dust and ashes. 

An Act of Adoration. 

OMY God ! I adore Thee as my 
Creator and sovereign Lord ; 

45 



46 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



I am nothing before Thee, I de- 
pend on Thee, and submit myself 
entirely to Thee. 

An act of Faith. 

OMY God! I firmly believe all 
the sacred truths, the holv 
Catholic Church believes and 
teaches; because Thou hast re- 
vealed them, Who canst neither 
deceive nor be deceived. 

An Act of Hope. 

OMY God! relying on Thy 
infinite goodness and prom- 
ises, I hope to obtain, pardon for 
all my sins, the assistance of Thy 
grace and life everlasting, through 
the merits of Jesus Christ and by 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



47 



the intercession of His Blessed 
Mother and all the Saints, 

An Act of Love. 

OMY God ! I love Thee above 
all things, with my whole 
heart and soul, purely because 
Thou art infinitely perfect and 
deserving of all love; I love also 
my neighbor as myself for the 
love of Thee ; I forgive all who 
have injured me, and ask pardon 
of all whom I have injured. 

An Act of Thanksgiving. 

OMY God ! I give Thee thanks 
for having created me, for 
having preserved me, for having 
redeemed me by the precious blood 



48 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



of Thy Son, for having made me a 
child of the holy Catholic Church, 
and generally for all the favors I 
have received from Thy infinite 
goodness. 

Let us foresee the sins to which we arc most sub- 
ject, and make a firm resolution to avoid them. — 
(Here all pause for a while.) 

An Act of Contrition. 

MY conscience, 0 my God, still 
reproaches me with many 
weaknesses and infidelities; I re- 
pent sincerely of them in Thy 
presence and for Thy sake; and 
I resolve henceforward to be more 
diligent in shunning and correct- 
ing them. Strengthen, 0 Lord, 
my resolution and perfect in me 
what Thy grace has begun. 



f 

MORNING PRAYERS. 



49 



An Act of Offering. 

OLORD, I offer up unto Thee 
my soul and body, my whole 
being, all my thoughts, words, 
actions and sufferings of this day. 
May all, 0 my God! be directed 
to Thy greater glory and to my 
salvation. Alas! this day shall 
perhaps be the last of my life; 
permit me not to be so unhappy 
as to abuse it. 

Let us beg of God the graces we stand in need of 
to spend this day holily; and let us address to Him 
the prayer which He Himself has given us. 

The Lord's Prayer. 

OUR Father, Who art in heaven; 
hallowed be Thy name ; Thy 
kingdom come; Thy will be done 
on earth, as it is in heaven ; give 

4 



50 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



us this day our daily bread; and 
forgive us our trespasses, as we 
forgive those who trespass against 
us, and lead us not into tempta- 
tion; but deliver us from evil. 

Amen. 

The Angelical Salutation. 

HAIL, Mary full of grace ! the 
Lord is with thee ; blessed 
art thou among women; and 
blessed is the fruit of thy womb 
J esus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, 
pray for us sinners, now and at 
the hour of our death. Amen. 

The Apostles' Creed. 

I BELIEVE in God, the Father 
Almighty, Creator of heaven 
and earth; and in Jesus Christ, 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



51 



His only Son, our Lord ; Who was 
conceived by the Holy Ghost, born 
of the Virgin Mary ; suffered under 
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died 
and was buried, He descended into 
hell ; the third day He rose again 
from the dead; He ascended into 
heaven, sitteth at the right hand 
of God, the Father Almighty; from 
thence He shall come to judge the 
living and the dead. I believe in 
the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic 
Church, the communion of Saints, 
the forgiveness of sins, the resur- 
rection of the bodv and life ever- 

%j 

lasting. Amen. 



ORD, God Almighty, Who hast 



granted us to come to the 



Let us Pray. 




52 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



beginning of this day ; preserve us 
by Thy powerful assistance from 
falling, during it, into any sin 

whatever, and grant that our dis- 
course, our thoughts and our ac- 
tions may tend to the practice of 
Thy righteousness: through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



Let us pray for our Holy Father, the Pope, our 
Kt. Kev. Bishop, all the Pastors and Ministers of the 
Church, for those who govern us, and, generally, for 
all those for whom we are hound to pray. 



ORD, God Almighty, Who art 



we beseech Thee, to us, and to all 
those for whom we pray to Thee, 
an increase of faith, hope and 
charity; and that we may obtain 
what Thou dost promise, make us 
love what Thou dost command. 




the Author of all good ! grant, 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



53 



0 Holy Virgin, most worthy 
Mother of God, show thyself to be 
our Mother also, and preyail on 
Him to hear our prayers, "Who, for 
our redemption, vouchsafed to be 
born of thee. 

And ye, 0 Blessed Spirits, to 
wiiose care we are committed, 
great Saints whose names we have 
the honor to bear ; ye all, the elect 
and friends of God, vouchsafe to 
intercede for us at the throne of 
His divine Majesty, that He may 
establish our davs and our actions 
in His holy peace, preserve us from 
all evil and lead us to eternal life ; 
and mav the souls of the faithful 
departed, through the mercy of 
God, rest in peace. Amen. 



54 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



Let us place ourselves in the presence of God. 
(A few moments of silence ensue, after which, all 
say aloud:) 

I CONFESS to Almighty God, to 
the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, 
to Blessed Michael the Archangel, 
to Blessed John the Baptist, to the 
holy Apostles, Peter and Paul and 
to all the Saints, that I have sinned 
exceedingly, in thought, word and 
deed: through my fault, through 
my fault, through my most griev- 
ous fault. Therefore, I beseech 
the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, the 
Blessed Michael the Archangel, 
Blessed John the Baptist, the holy 
Apostles Peter and Paul, and all 
the Saints, to pray to the Lord our 
God for me. 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



55 



May the Almighty God haye 
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, 
and bring us to everlasting life. 

Amen. 

May the Almighty and merciful 
Lord, grant us pardon, absolution 
and remission of all our sins. 

Amen. 

Then all secretly invoke the Holy Ghost, and beg 
of Him the light, love and recollection to make a 
good meditation. After which the following prayer 
is said : 

COME, 0 holy Spirit, replenish 
the hearts of Thy faithful, 
and kindle in them the fire of 
diyine loye. 

f. Send forth Thy Spirit, and 
our hearts shall be regenerated. 

fy. And Thou shalt renew the 
face of the earth. 



56 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



Let us Pray. 

OGOD, Who by the light of the 
Holy Ghost didst instruct 
the hearts of the Faithful; grant 
us, by the same holy Spirit, the 
love and relish of what is right 
and just, and the constant enjoy- 
ment of His comforts; through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Notk. — Meditation is proposed and made, at the 
end of which the following prayers are said : 

WE fly to thy patronage, 0 
holy Mother of God I de- 
spise not our petitions in our 
necessities; but deliver us from 
all dangers, 0 ever glorious and 
blessed Virgin! 

0 Angel of God, who art my 
guardian! and to whose care I am 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



5T 



committed by the supreme clem- 
ency, enlighten, guard and direct 
me this day and every day, and at 
the hour of my death. Amen. 

(~\ JESUS, living in Mary! come 



and live in Tliv servants, in 
the spirit of Thy sanctity, in the 
fulness of Thy power, in the per- 
fection of Thy ways, in the truth 
of Thy virtues, in the commu- 
nion of Thy mysteries, triumph 
over all adverse powers in Thy 
Holy Spirit, for the glory of Thy 
Father. Amen. 

Glory be to the Father, and to 
the Son, and to the Holy Ghost! 

As it was in the beginning, is 
now, and ever shall be, world 




58 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



without end. Amen. [Repeat seven 
times.) 

Hail Mary! &c. 

TJie Angelus. 

THE Angel of the Lord declared 
unto Mary; 
And she conceived by the Holy 
Ghost. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Behold the handmaid of the 
Lord ! 

May it be done unto me accord- 
ing to Thy word ! 
Hail Mary, &c. 

And the Word was made flesh ! 
And dwelt among us. 
Hail Mary, &c. 



MORNING PRAYERS. 



59 



Let us Pray. 

POUR forth, we beseech Thee, 
0 Lord, Thy srace into our 
hearts, that we to whom the Incar- 
carnation of Christ, Thy Son, was 
made known by the message of an 
Angel, may, by His passion and 
cross, be brought to the glory of 
His resurrection; through the 
same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Eegina Coeli. 

(Said instead of the preceding from Holy Saturday 
at noon until Trinity Sunday.) 




HAPPY Queen of heaven, 
rejoice, Alleluia! 



The Son thou lovest, by heaven's 
choice, Alleluia ! 



60 



MORNING PRAYERS 



From death is risen, as He did 
say, Alleluia! 

To God for us, thy children pray. 
Alleluia ! 

f. Kejoice and be glad, 0 Vir- 
gin Mary, Alleluia. 

fy. Because our Lord is truly 
risen, Alleluia. 



GOD, Who, by the resurrec- 



tion of Thy Son, our Lord, 
Jesus Christ, hast been pleased to 
fill the world with joy; grant, we 
beseech Thee, that, by the inter- 
cession of the Virgin Mary, His 
Mother, we may receive the joys 
of eternal life; through the same 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



Let us Pray, 




MORNING PRAYERS. 



61 



May the divine assistance al- 
ways remain with us. Amen. 

And may the souls of the faith- 
ful departed, through the mercy of 
God, rest in peace. Amen. 



E fly to thy patronage, &c. 



Pray for us, 0 holy Mother 
of God; 

That we may be made worthy of 
the promises of Christ. 

Blessed St. Vincent, our holy 
Founder! pray for us and protect 
us. Amen. 



For Protection against Fire, 




Thoughts that may Serve for Subjects of 
Meditation. 



THE pleasure of dying without trouble is 
worth the trouble of living without 
pleasure. 

Without esteem and respect for interior vir- 
tues, it is impossible to lead a perfect life. 

(Avila.) 

True greatness and nobility spring only from 
the perfect fulfilment of the will of God. 

One single act of virtue, performed with fer- 
vor, advances a soul more than fifty performed 
carelessly. (St. Teresa.) 

It is unnatural for roses to be white; the 
pink are more beautiful and smell sweeter. It 
is, however, the nature of lilies. Let us be as 
we are, but perfect, each in its kind, for the 
honor of the great Master, whose work we are. 

(St. F. de Sales.) 

A straw, raised from the ground, in virtue of 
obedience, is worth more than martyrdom, suf- 
fered for self-love. (St. Teresa.) 
62 



THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



63 



When you perforin good works, seek not to 
please creatures, desire only to please God. 
The eyes of men are like thieves who rob you 
of the merit of your good works. (St. Aloy- 
sius.) 

Oh, what a precious flower is purity, and how 
delicate ! A look, a word, a sigh, is sufficient 
to destroy its beauty. Therefore, chaste souls 
continually distrust themselves, and avoid the 
slightest occasions which may expose them to 
danger. (Nouet.) 

Prudence is the first resource we have in 
order to fulfil our duties well. (St. Ambrose.) 

But one thing is necessary. 

To be saved, we must not only avoid evil, we 
must do good. (Fenelon.) 

You have time to-day to labor for your salva- 
tion, perhaps you will not have it to-morrow. 

(id.) 

There are but few peaceful souls, because 
there are so few who pray, (de Ramgnan.) 

Have we not repelled God a hundred times 
when He knocked with love at the door of our 
hearts ? How long He waited ! Is it not just 
that He should now make us wait ? (St. Augus- 
tine.) 



64 THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



When you come before our Lord, speak to 
Him if you can ; if you cannot, remain there, 
show yourself to Him and be not disturbed. 

(St. E of Sales.) 

Time passes on, and our pains pass with it ; 
but the glory which follows these pains passes 
not — -it is eternal. (St. Bernard.) 

The grace of the present moment is perhaps 
that which will decide our lot for eternity. — 

(Nepven.) 

The truly humble soul ought to be delighted 
when its humiliation, and not its humility, is 
manifested. (St. Bernard.) 

Humility does not consist in being ignorant 
of the graces which God bestows upon us, but 
in referring entirely to Him the gifts received 
from His hand, and in attributing to ourselves 
nothing but sin and weakness. (St. John of 
the Cross.) 

Above all, I love these small virtues, meek- 
ness of heart, poverty of spirit and simplicity of 
life ; and these more common exercises of visit- 
ing the sick, serving the poor, consoling the 
afflicted and the like, performed without eager- 
ness and with true liberty of spirit. Our arms 
are not long enough to reach the cedars of 



THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



65 



LebaDon ; let us, therefore, be content with the 
hyssop of the valley. (St. F. of Sales.) 

It is better to blame yourself a thousand times 
than only once to lav the blame on others. — 

(Nepveu.) 

How beautiful it is to behold the poor, when 
one considers them in God and the light in 
which Jesus Christ regarded them ! (Spiritual 
Maxims of St Vincent of Paul.) 

The perfection of divine love does not con- 
sist in ecstasies ; it consists in doing the will of 
God. (Id.) 

Sickness is not an evil which we should fear, 
but a most efficacious means of sanctifying our 
souls. To murmur when God sends it, is to 
complain of His having done us good. (Id.) 

One of the greatest evils that can afflict a 
community is a member who will murmur at 
every thing, complain of and contradict every 
thing. (Id.) 

The salvation of a soul is so important, that 
in order to secure it, we should expose not only 
our property, but our lives. (Id.) 

The spirit of Jesus Christ is one of upright- 
ness and sincerity. He that is called to glorify 



5 



66 



THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



this loving God ought to act according to His 
spirit. (Id.) 

None are fit for the works of God but those 
who have profound humility and a sincere con- 
tempt for themselves. (Id.) 

Woe to him who seeks his own ease ! Woe 
to him who shuns the cross ; because he will 
find others so weighty that they will overwhelm 
him. (Id.) 

Charity is the cement of souls, which unites 
all the faithful together ; it departs not when it 
can be useful, but it is neither rash nor hasty, by 
intruding itself at an unseasonable time. (St. 
Augustine.) 

Speak little and mildly, little and well, little 
and simply, little and frankly, little and affably. 

(St. F. of Sales.) 

The complacency which we take in ourselves, 
removes us from God. (Nepveu.) 

We do more for others by correcting ourselves 
than by wishing to correct them. (Id.) 

The virtue of the patient man is preferable to 
miracles and wonders. (St. Gregory the Great.) 

Meekness, sweetness of heart, and equality of 
temper are virtues more rare than chastity. (St. 
F. of Sales.) 



THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



67 



Let us be at peace with God by love, with 
our neighbor by patience, with ourselves by 
mortification. 

When we are where God wills, He knows 
where to find us. 

A perfect act of conformity to the will of God, 
at the moment of death, not only sets the soul 
free from Hell, but even from Purgatory. {Louis 
de Blois.) 

The virtue of poverty consists not only in the 
privation of earthly goods but in the love of 
this privation. (St. Bernard.) 

Sweetness and consolation are more likely to 
nourish pride than divine love. (Nepveu.) 

The true love of God is not always that which 
is felt and is delightful to us; but that which 
humbles and disengages us from ourselves and 
from creatures. (Fenelon.) 

Attachment even to good things is hurtful. 

(St. Liguori ) 

Our blessed Saviour descended into the womb 
of His holy Mother during the silence of night ; 
He enters our hearts and takes possession of 
them, when He finds them peaceful and in 
silence. 



68 THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



As honey made from the bitter thyme is the 
best, so is that virtue the most excellent which 
is exercised amidst the most contemptible and 
abject tribulations. (St. F. of Sales.) 

Whosoever neglects prayer precipitates him- 
self into hell. (St. Teresa.) 

We must have a noble and generous humility, 
which never does anything for the sake of praise 
and omits nothing for fear of being praised. — 

(St. Teresa.) 

Beware of discouragement: it is the greatest 
harm which can befall you. The devil is afraid 
of confidence in God. (St. F. of Sales.) 

Prudence is not the virtue of him who obeys, 
but of him who commands. (St. Ignatius.) 

One ounce of prayer, in the time of dryness, 
is of more value in the sight of God than one 
hundred pounds in the midst of consolation. 

(St. F. of Sales.) 

He is the most happy in this life who loves 
God most. (St. Liguori.) 

Make no show of the devotion you have in 
your heart, unless great necessity oblige you. 
" My secret is mine," said St. Bernard and St. 
Francis. (St. Teresa.) 



THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 69 



We ought only to be found with men, when 
God is not willing that we should remain with 
Him. (P. Judde.) 

Simplicity is the perfection of humility ; the 
simple soul entirely forgets herself to think only 
of God ; she has but one look, one intention, 
one will, one love; God alone is the object of 
her delight. 

The field of the sluggard is covered with 
briars ; a useless life is alone sufficient for our 
condemnation. (St. Bernard.) 

When the labors of an active life spring from 
the love of God, they are supreme perfection. 
(St. Teresa.) 

To arrive quickly at perfection, we must speak 
much to God and little to men. 

Intimate union with God is formed by grace, 
the cross and divine love. (Nejiueu.) 

You cannot speak well without grace. Can 
you expect to do so, when you speak at a time 
in which God forbids you to speak? (Sonet ) 

The more you advance in perfection, the more 
you must fear vanity ; other vices are nourished 
by sin, but virtue is often the food of vanity. 

The religious state is one of sacrifice, in which 
one must expect to find only an altar, a sword 



TO 



THOUGHTS FOR MEDITATION. 



and burning fire. The sword separates us from 
all that is dearest on earth and even from our- 
selves. In this sacrifice, the soul does indeed 
taste innocent and pure joys ; but worldly plea- 
sures are forbidden her. No more human friend- 
ships, no more dissipation, no more indulgence 
in reading light and useless books. She must 
be silent when she would like to speak ; speak 
when silence would be agreeable ; labor when 
she feels inclined to rest, and often rest when 
labor would seem to be more grateful. This is 
not all ; when the victim has been immolated, 
it must be consumed ; all that is opposed to 
God and to the perfection of His love, judg- 
ment, will, desires, all must be sacrificed in the 
religious soul. If this picture frightens you, 
beware ! You may sully that holy state. 

The most obedient soul will be the most 
beloved. She who rejoices when receiving 
humiliation and correction will soon delight 
the Heart of Jesus. 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 

>J< In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Blessed he the holy and undivided Trinity, now 
and for ever more. Amen. 

COME, 0 Holv Ghost ! replenish 
the hearts of Thy faithful 
and kindle in tliein the fire of Thy 
divine love. Impress our minds 
with the respect and attention 
which we owe to the presence of 
our God, our Father, and our 
Judge, before Whom we presume 
to appear and to Whom we dare 
to offer up our prayers, whereas 
we are but dust and ashes. 

An Act of Adoration. 

OMY God! I adore Thee as my 
Creator and sovereign Lord; 

71 



12 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



I am nothing before Thee; I de- 
pend on Thee, and submit myself 
entirely to Thee. 

An Act of Faith. 

OMY God! I firmly believe all 
the sacred truths the holy 
Catholic Church believes and 
teaches, because Thou hast re- 
vealed them, Who canst neither 
deceive nor be deceived. 

An Act of Hope. 

OMY God! relying on Thy 
goodness and promises, I 
hope to obtain pardon for my sins, 
the assistance of Thy grace, and 
life everlasting; through the 
merits of Jesus Christ, and by the 
intercession of His blessed Mother 
and the Saints. 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



13 



An Act of Love. 

OMY God! I love Thee above 
all things, with my whole 
heart and soul; purely because 
Thou art infinitely perfect and 
deserving of all love. I love also 
my neighbor as myself, for the 
love of Thee; I forgive all who 
have injured me, and ask pardon 
of all whom I have injured. 

An Act of Thanksgiving. 

OMY God! I give Thee thanks 
for having created me ; for 
having preserved me; for having 

redeemed me bv the blood of Thv 
Son; for having made me a child 
of Thy Church ; and, generally, for 
all the favors I have received from 
Thy infinite goodness. 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



Let us implore the grace of God to know and detest 
our sins. 



"1 RE AT God, sovereign Judge 



V-J of the living and the dead! 
Who wiliest not the death of the 
sinner, but rather that he be con- 
verted and live, I humbly present 
myself before Thee, to give Thee 
an account of this dav. Give light 
to my mind, that I may know my 
sins ; and sorrow to my heart, that 
" I may detest them, as much as 
thev deserve to be detested. 



Let us examine our consciences on the sins which 
we have committed this day, by thoughts, words, 
actions and omissions ; insisting, particularly, on the 

failings to which we are most subject. (A pause * 

after which say :) 



I confess to Almighty God, &c, 




as on page 54. 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



75 



An Act of Contrition. 

OMT God ! I am most heartily 
sorry for all my sins ; and I 
detest them, above all things, be- 
cause they offend Thee, 0 God of 
Infinite Goodness ! Whom I wish 
to love with all my heart. I firmly 
purpose, by Thy holy grace, never 
more to offend Thee, to confess my 
sins, and do penance for them. 



Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.* 



This Litany is said by the Community on Mom 
nesdays and Fridays; the Litany of the Blessed 
Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 

T ORD, have mercy on us. 



Lord, have mercy on us. 

Jesus, hear us 

Jesus, graciously hear us. 

God, the Father of heaven, 

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 

God, the Holy Ghost, 

Holy Trinity, one God, 

Jesus, Son of the living God, 

Jesus, splendor of the Father, 

Jesus, brightness of eternal light, 

J esus, king of glory, 

Jesus, the sun of justice, 

Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, 

Jesus, amiable, 

Jesus, admirable, 

Jesus, the mighty God, 

Jesus, Father of the world to come, 

Jesus, Angel of the great council, 



^-.Approved by a Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, 



a 

< 
o 

3 

- 8 

o 
cs 




Christ, have mercy on us. 



76 



LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 



Jesus, most powerful, 

Jesus, most patient, 

Jesus, most obedient, 

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, 

Jesus, lover of chastity, 

Jesus, lover of mankind, 

Jesus, God of peace, 

Jesus, author of life, 

Jesus, model of virtues, 

Jesus, zealous for souls, 

Jesus, our God, 

Jesus, our refuge, 

Jesus, father of the poor, 

Jesus, treasure of the faithful, 

Jesus, good shepherd, 

Jesus, true light, 

Jesus, eternal wisdom, 

Jesus, infinite goodness. 

Jesus, our way and our life, 

Jesus, joy of the Angels, 

Jesus, King of the Patriarchs, 

Jesus, master of the Apostles, 

Jesus, teacher of the Evangelists, 

Jesus, strength of Martyrs, 

Jesus, light of Confessors, 

Jesus, purity of Virgins, 



18 



LITANY OF THE 



Jesus, crown of all Saints, have mercy on 
Be merciful, spare us, 0 Jesus. 
Be merciful, graciously hear us, 0 Jesus. 
From all evil, 
From all sin, 
From Thy wrath, 
From the snares of the devil, 
From the spirit of fornication, 
From everlasting death, 
From the neglect of Thy inspirations, 
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarna- 
tion. 

Through Thy nativity, 
Through Thy infancy, 
Through Thy most divine life, 
Through Thy labors, 
Through Thy agony and passion, 
Through Thy cross and dereliction, 
Through Thy weariness and faintness, 
Through Thy death and burial, 
Through Thy resurrection, 
Through Thy ascension, 
Through Thy joys, 
Through Thy glory, 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of 
world. Spare us, 0 Jesus. 



MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 



79 



•Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 
world. Graciously hear us, 0 Jesus. 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 
world. Have mercy on us, 0 Jesus* 

Jesus, hear us. 

Jesus, graciously hear us. 



LORD Jesus Christ, Who hast 



said : " Ask and you shall re- 
ceive ; seek and you shall find ; knock 
and it shall be opened unto you;" 
mercifully attend to our supplica- 
tions, and grant us the gift of divine 
Charity, that we may ever love Thee 
with our whole hearts, and never 
desist from Thy praise ; Who livest 
and reignest world without end. 



Let us Pray. 




Amen. 



80 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



Let us Pray. 

DEFEND, we beseech Thee, 0 
Lord, by the intercession of 
the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, this 
Thy family from all adversity ; and 
as, with our whole hearts, we lie 
prostrate before Thee, defend us 
from the snares of our enemies: 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

Amen. 

Pour down Thy blessing, 0 Lord, 
on Thy holy Church, on our holy 
Father, the Pope, on this Diocess, 
on our Right Reverend Bishop and 
on all Pastors of souls; on this 
country, on our rulers, and all 
superiors, temporal and spiritual; 
on this congregation,, on this 
family, on our parents, relatives, 
benefactors, friends and enemies. 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



81 



Help the poor, the sick, and those 
who are in their a son v. Convert 
all sinners, and enlighten all here- 
tics and infidels. 

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. 
I believe in God, &c, as on page 50. 

Let us pray for the souls of the faithful departed 
and, particularly, for those of our friends and bene- 
factors. 

Psalm cxxix. 

OUT of the depths, I have cried 
unto Thee, 0 Lord ! Lord 
hear mv voice. 

Let Thine ears be attentive to 
the voice of my supplication. 

If Thou, 0 Lord, wilt mark in- 
iquities, Lord, who shall stand it ? 

For with Thee, there is merciful 
forgiveness ; and by reason of Thy 
law, I have waited for Thee, 0 Lord. 

6 



82 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



My soul hath relied on His 
word ; my soul hath hoped in the 
Lord. 

From the morning watch, even 
until night, let Israel hope in the 
Lord. 

Because with the Lord there is 
mercy ; and with . Him plentiful 
redemption. 

And He shall redeem Israel from 
all his iniquities. 

f. Eternal rest give unto them, 
0 Lord! 

^. And let perpetual light shine 
upon them. 

f. May they rest in peace. 
fy. Amen. 

f. 0 Lord, hear my prayer. 
^. And let my cry come unto 
Thee. 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



83 



Let us Pray. 

OGOD, the Creator and Re- 
deemer of all the faithful! 
grant to the souls of Thy servants 
departed, the remission of all their 
sins, that through the help of pious 
supplications they may obtain that 
pardon which they have always 
desired; Who livest and reignest, 
world without end. Amen. 

Let us recommend our rest to God, to the Blessed 
Virgin and the Saints. 

% Vouchsafe, 0 Lord, this night 
to keep us without sin. 

ty. Have mercy on us, 0 Lord! 
have mercy on us. 



84 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



Let us Pray. 

VISIT, we beseech Thee, 0 
Lord, this habitation and 
drive away from it all the snares 
of the enemy. Let Thy holy Angels 
dwell therein, to preserve us in 
peace; and may Thy blessing be 
upon us for ever: through Jesus 
Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Let us recommend ourselves to God, to the Blessed 
Virgin and the Saints. 

MOST holy Virgin, Mother of 
mercy, my good Angel, my 
holy Patrons, all ye blessed Saints 
in Heaven, I implore your power- 
ful protection. Intercede for me, 
I beseech you, before the Lord, 
that He may be pleased to pour 
His blessings on me, to grant me 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



85 



a quiet night, and the grace of a 
holy and happy death. Amen. 

MY God ! I offer up unto Thee 
the rest I am going to take, 
in union with the rest which my 
Saviour Jesus Christ took upon 
earth, and with His death and 
burial; I offer also my awaking 
in the morning in honor of His 
awaking, and of His glprious resur- 
rection. I adore the dispositions 
of His Sacred Heart in these va- 
rious states and humbly beg; of 
Thee the favor of being made 
partaker of them. Amen. 

J. May our evening prayer as- 
cend unto Thee, 0 Lord. 

fy. And may Thy mercy descend 
on us. 



86 



NIGHT PRAYERS. 



Ulory be to the Father, &c, 
(seven times.) 
Hail Mary, &c. 

May the divine assistance re- 
main always with us. Amen. 

And may the souls of the faith- 
ful departed, through the mercy 
of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

The points for the morning meditation are then 
read, after which all kneel again and close the 
evening prayers by the following invocations : 

To be prolecied from Fire. 

WE fly to thy patronage, &c. 
Pray for us, &c. 
Blessed St. Yincent, &c. 

Let us place ourselves, our property and all entrus- 
ted to our care, under the protection of the Blessed 
Virgin. 




MARY, conceived without 
. sin, &c , (three times.) 



Litany of the Infant Jesus. 



To be said instead of the preceding, from 
the Purification. 

T ORD, have mercy on us. 



Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
God, the Father of Heaven, 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the wor 
God, the Holy Ghost, 
Holy Trinity, one God, 
Infant, Jesus Christ, 
Infant, true God, 
Infant, Son of the living God, 
Infant, Son of the Virgin Mary, 
Infant, strong in weakness, 
Infant, powerful in tenderness, 
Infant, treasurer of grace, 
Infant, fountain of love, 
Infant, renewer of the Heavens, 
Infant, repairer of the earth, 
Infant, head of the Angels, 
Infant, root of the Patriarchs, 
Infant, speech of the Prophets, 
Infant, desire of the Gentiles, 




Christ, have mercy on us. 



88 



LITANY OP THE INFANT JESUS. 



Infant, joy of the Shepherds, 
Infant, light of the Magi, 



r tr) 

as 



< 

CD 



Infant, salvation of infants, 




Infant, expectation of the just, 
Infant, instructor of the wise, 
Infant, first fruit of all saints, 



J 



Be merciful to us ; hear us, Infant Jesus. 

Be merciful to us; spare us, Infant Jesus. 

From the slavery of the children of Adam de- 
liver us, 0 Infant Jesus. 

From the slavery of the devil, deliver us, 0 In- 
fant Jesus. 

From the concupiscence of the flesh, deliver us, 
O infant Jesus. 

From the malice of the world, deliver us, 0 In- 
fant Jesus. 

From the pride of life, deliver us, 0 Infant Jesus. 
From an inordinate desire of knowledge, deliver 

us, O Infant Jesus. 
From blindness of spirit, deliver us, 0 Infant 

Jesus. 

From an evil will, deliver us, 0 Infant Jesus. 
From our sins, deliver us, 0 Infant Jesus. 
Through Thy most pure conception, hear us, O 
Infant Jesus. 



LITANY OF THE INFANT JESUS. 



89 



w 

CD 
P 

d 



CD 



O 



Through Thy most humble nativity, 
Through Thy tears, 
Through Thy painful circumcision, 
Through Thy glorious manifestation, 
Through Thy pious presentation, 
Through Thy innocent conversation, 
Through Thy divine life, 
Through Thy poverty, 
Through Thy many sufferings, 
Through Thy labors and journeys, 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, spare us, 0 Infant Jesus. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 
world ; hear us, 0 Infant Jesus. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world : have mercy on us, 0 Infant Jesus. 

Lei us Pray. 

OLORD Jesus, Who didst, for 
the love of us, vouchsafe to 
reduce Thy incarnate divinity to the 
humiliating states of birth and in- 
fancy, grant that we, acknowledging 
Thy infinite wisdom in Thy infancy, 



90 



DEVOTIONS AFTER NIGHT PRAYERS. 



Thy power in Thy weakness, and 
Thy majesty in Thy littleness, may 
adore Thee, a little one on earth, and 
behold Thee great in heaven ; Who 
livest and reignest with God the Fa- 
ther, in unity with the Holy Ghost, 
world without end. Amen. 



Devotions which may be used after Night 
Prayers, 

Kneeling by the bedside : 

ONE day more is gone, 0 my 
God, and I am so much 
nearer the one when I shall ap- 
pear before Thee. Perhaps ere 
morning shall have dawned, I 
shall be summoned. Be merciful 
to me, 0 my God! Sw r eet Jesus, 
be not my Judge, but my Saviour. 



DEVOTIONS AFTER NIGHT PRAYERS. 91 

Into the hands of Thy mercy, 0 
Lord, I commend my sonl and 
body, my senses, my words, and 
all my actions, the course and end 
of my life, the day, hour and man- 
ner of my death, that whether I 
labor or rest, live or die, I may 
simply and cheerfully abide by 
Thy holy will. 

"Whilst undressing : 

DETACH my heart from sin, 0 
Lord, and from all that is 
not Thee. Grant that I may cor- 
rect myself of whatever displeases 
Thee in me. 

Before going to sleep : 

OPEN Thy heart to me, my 
Saviour, and allow Thy un- 
worthy child to live, to rest and to 



92 



DEVOTIONS AFTER NIGHT PRAYERS. 



die in that safe asylum of peace 
and love, that even when I slum- 
ber, I may say with the holy 
Spouse, "I sleep, but my heart 
watches. 7 ' 

Holy Mary, my Mother, remem- 
ber that I am thine. Protect , me, 
defend me, as thy property and 
possession. 

My faithful Angel guardian, 
watch over me ; St. Vincent, pray 
for me. 



Kissing your crucifix with reverence and love, 
adore your dying Saviour, fold your hands across 
your breast, recall the subject of meditation, and 
compose yourself to sleep with some such prayer as : 



ATHER, into Thy hands, I 



commend my spirit! 
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! I give you 
v T heart and my soul ! 




DEVOTIONS AFTER NIGHT PRAYERS. 93 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph! assist me 
in my last agony. 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph! let my 
soul send forth her last sigh in 
peace, with you to aid me. 

To the three ejaculations above, an indulgence of 
300 days is attached, as often as they are devoutly 
said. If only one be recited, an indulgence of 100 
days is granted. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



Pkayer before Mass. 

O FATHER of mercies and God 
of all consolation! Who, not 
content that Thy only-begotten 
Son should have been once offered 
a bleeding victim upon the cross 
for our salvation, wouldst have 
the same most acceptable obla- 
tion daily repeated in an unbloody 
manner, to renew in our souls the 
fruit thereof; grant, we beseech 
Thee, that we may assist at this 
adorable mystery of Thy power, 
wisdom and goodness, with such 
reverence, attention and love, that 
we may plentifully partake of the 

94 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



95 



fruits it is intended to produce in 
us: through the same Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 

At the Commencement of Mass. 

>J<In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

IT is in Thy name, 0 adorable 
Trinity ! it is to honor Thee, 
and to do Thee homage, that I 
presume to assist at this most 
holy and august sacrifice. Permit 
me then, 0 Lord ! to unite my in- 
tention with that of Thy minister, 
in offering up this precious victim ; 
and give me now the sentiments 
with which I should have been 
filled on Mount Calvary, had 1 
been witness to the bloody sacri- 
fice offered thereon. 



96 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



CONFITEOR. 

Think now, in the bitterness of your heart, on all 
your past sins, and recall to your mind, in a general 
manner, such of them as are most humbling to you. 
Lay your weaknesses before God. Beg of Him to 
pardon you, and to assist you in all your necessities, 
through the infinite merits of this great sacrifice. 

I CONFESS, 0 my God! not 
only in Thy presence, Who 
seest the secrets of hearts, but 
in the presence of all the blessed 
in heaven, and of all the faithful 
on earth, that I have often and 
grievously offended Thee by my 
thoughts, words, actions and omis- 
sions. Yes, I have sinned, 0 my 
God! I have sinned; I acknow- 
ledge it to my shame and with 
the most bitter regret. I have 
abused all Thy gifts. I am un- 
worthy to appear before Thee. 



DEVOTIONS TOR MASS. 



97 



But Thy mercies, 0 my God! are 
above all Thy works; Thou wilt 
not despise a contrite and humble 
heart, 

0 most holv Virgin ! and ye 
Angels and Saints of heaven ! I 
humbly beseech vou to intercede 
for me. Vouchsafe, 0 Lord! to 
listen to their prayers. Grant to 
the ardor of their supplications, 
what Thou mayst justly refuse to 
the coldness of mine, and, to their 
services so pleasing in Thy sight, 
that pardon to which my offences 
can have no claim. 

Kyrie Eleison. 

Beg of the Lord to show you mercy, and rely with 
confidence on His infinite goodness. By granting 
you so powerful a means of reconciliation as this is, 
He gives you a sure pledge that you will obtain it. 

i 



98 



DEVOTIONS I'OR MASS. 



THOUGH I were at every 
instant of my life to cry 
out, Lord, have mercy on me! 
this would still be unequal to 
the number and quality of my 
offences. But though, after long 
repeating this prayer, Thou 
shouldst appear to disregard me, 
I would still redouble my impor- 
tunity, and cry out, with a louder 
and more animated voice, as the 
woman of Canaan, and the blind 
man of Jericho did: u Jesus, son 
of David! have mercy on me!" 
Be not then tired, 0 Lord ! of my 
supplications. I know that Thou 
lovest to be importuned. If, as yet, 
Thy goodness hath not granted my 
pardon, my perseverance shall, at 
length, engage Thee to grant it. 



DEVOTIONS TOR MASS. 



99 



Have pity, bountiful Creator, on 
the work of Thv hands. 0 Father 
of mercies ! grant pardon to Thy 
children. 

Gloria in Excelsis. 

Conceive a great desire of promoting God's glory, 
and your neighbor's good. Eejoice with the Angels 
at the share you have in the holy mysteries, and form 
to yourself the highest idea of the majesty of God 
and of Jesus Christ His Son. 




LORIA in ex- 
celsis Deo, et 



in terra pax hornini- 
bus bonse voluntatis. 
Laudamus te. Bene- 
dicimus te. Adora- 
mus te. Glorificamus 
te. Gratias aginlus 
tibi propter magnam 
gloriam tuam. Do- 
mine Deus, Rex coe- 
lestis ! Deus Pater 




LORY be to 
God on high, 



and peace on earth 
to men of good will. 
We praise Thee. We 
bless Thee. We adore 
Thee. We glorify 
Thee. We give Thee 
thanks for Thy great 
glory. O Lord God ! 
O heavenly King ! 
O God, the Father 



100 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



omnipotens! Domine, 
Fili unigenite, Jesu 
Christe! Domine 
Deus! Agnus Dei! 
Filius Patris ! Qui 
tollis peccata mundi ! 
miserere nobis. Qui 
tollis peccata mundi ! 
suscipe deprecationem 
nostram. Qui sedes 
ad dexteram Fatris ! 
miserere nobis. Quo- 
niam tu solus sanctus. 
Tu solus Dominus. 
Tu solus altissimus. 
Jesu Christe ! Cum 
Sancto Spiritu in 
gloria Dei Patris. 

Amen. 



Almighty ! O Lord 
Jesus Christ, the 
only begotten Son ! 
O Lord God ! Lamb 
of God! Son of the 
Father! O Thou, 
who takest away the 
sins of the world ! 
have mercy on us. 
O Thou, who takest 
away the sins of the 
world ! receive our 
prayer. O Thou, who 
sittest at the right 
hand of the Father ! 
have mercy on us. 
For Thou alone art 
holy. Thou alone art 
Lord. Thou alone art 
most high, O Jesus 
Christ! together with 
the Holy Ghost, in 
the glory of God the 
Father. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



101 



The Collect. 



This prayer is so called, because in it the priest 
lays before God the necessities of his people, their 
vows, and their desires, collected, in a manner, to- 
gether. "Whence, turning to the congregation, he 
says, Oremas, that is, Let us pray, inviting them to 
unite with him in the petition he is about to make. 



LMIGHTT and eternal God, 



look down upon this congregation 
from Thy heavenly sanctuary, and 
graciously hear those prayers of 
Thy Church, addressed to Thee for 
us all, by the ministry of this 
priest. 

•Grant us, in Thy infinite mercy, 
pardon for our sins, health of mind 
and body, peace in our days, unity 
and increase of Catholic Faith, 
fervor of charity, sincere devotion, 




we humbly beseech Thee to 



102 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



patience in suffering, and every- 
thing conducive to Thy glory, 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 



KeturnGod thanks for having called you to the 
knowledge of His law. Submit to it with perfect 
docility, and beg of Him to extend our holy religion 
over the whole world. 



^-^ ceasest to excite us to the 
worship and love of Thy holy 
name, and to arm us against all 
the attacks of the world, the flesh, 
and the devil, by the public min- 
istry of Thv Church, .bv the doc- 
trine of Thy prophets and apostles, 
and by many other holy admoni- 
tions; grant, we may faithfully 
attend to these lessons of salva- 



Amen. 



The Epistle. 




ETERNAL God ! Who never 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



103 



tion, that thus our knowledge of 
Thy law may never rise in judg- 
ment against us, but guide us se- 
curely to Thee : through Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 

The Gospel. 

Look on the Gospel, which you are now going to 
hear, as the rule of your faith and morals : a rale 
which Christ Himself has drawn up, which, at your 
baptism, you solemnly promised to follow, and by 
which you shall most certainly be judged. 

IT is not Thy interpreters, 0 
God ! who are now to instruct 
me ; it is Thy only Son ; it is His 
word I am going to hear, I most 
gratefully embrace this heavenly 
doctrine. I rise up and declare, 
in the face of heaven and earth, 
that I will walk faithfully in that 



104 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



way which He has marked out for 
me. He tells me here, that it will 
avail a man nothing to gain the 
whole world, if he lose his own 
soul; that the sensual, the covet- 
ous, the wordling, the libertine, 
the detractor, and such as are in- 
sensible to the miseries of the poor, 
shall have no. share in His heav- 
enly kingdom; and that, in order 
to become His disciple, I must 
take up my cross and follow Him. 
I receive, with all my heart, these 
sacred maxims : grant me the grace 
to put them in practice. For to 
what purpose, 0 my Jesus ! should 
I declare myself Thy disciple, if 
I were not to live according to 
Thy Gospel? 



< 



devotions for mass. 105 
The Creed. 

Renew here your faith. All these things which the 
Church proposes to your belief, are founded on God's 
own word, revealed in the Scriptures, announced by 
the prophets and the apostles, supported by miracles, 
confirmed by the martyrs, verified by the establish- 
ment of our faith, and obvious by the sanctity of our 
religion. 



CREDO in unum 
Deum, Patrera 
omnipotentem, facto- 
rem coeli et teme. vi- 
sibilium omnium, et 
invisibilium. Et in 
unum Dominum Je- 
sum Christum, Filium 
Dei unigenitum. Et 
ex Patre natum ante 
omnia saecula. Deum 
de Deo, Lumen de 
Lumine, Deum verum 
de Deo, vero. Geni- 
tum non factum, con- 
substantialem Patri, 



I BELIEVE in one 
God, the Father 
Almighty, maker of 
heaven and earth, of 
all things visible and 
invisible. And in one 
Lord Jesus Christ, the 
only-begotten Son of 
God ; and born of the 
Father before all ages. 
God of God; Light of 
Light ; true God of 
true God; begotten, 
not made; consubstan- 
tial with the Father, 
by whom all things 



iV 



106 DEVOTION 

per quern omnia facta 
sunt. Qui propter nos 
homines et propter 
nostram salutem, de- 
scendit de coelis. Et 
incarnatus est de Spi- 
ritu sancto ex Maria 
Virgine ET HOMO 
FACTUS EST. Cru- 
cifixus etiam pro no- 
bis: sub Pontio Pi- 
lato passus, et sepul- 
tus est. Et resurrexit 
tertia die, secundum 
Scripturas. Et ascen- 
dit in coelum, sedet ad 
dexteram Patris. Et 
iterum venturus est 
cum gloria judicare 
vivos et mortuos : 
cujus regni non erit 
finis. Et in Spiritual 
sanctum, Dominum et 
vivificantem : qui ex 
Patre Filioque pro- 



FOR MASS. 

were made. Who for 
us men and for our 
salvation, came down 
from heaven, and be- 
came incarnate by the 
Holy Ghost of the 
Virgin Mary, AND 
WAS MADE MAN. 
He was crucified also 
for us, suffered under 
Pontius Pilate, and 
was buried. And the 
third day he rose 
again, according to 
the Scriptures. And 
ascended into heaven, 
sitteth at the right 
hand of the Father. 
And He is to come 
again with glory to 
judge both the liv- 
ing and the dead : of 
whose kingdom there 
shall be no end. And 
in the Holy Ghost, 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



cedit. Qui cum Patre 
et Filio simul adora- 
tur,et conglorificatur: 
qui locutus est per 
prophetas. Ei unam, 
sanctam, Catholicam 
et Apostolicam Eccle- 
siaru. Confiteorunum 
Baptisrna in remis- 
sionem peccatorum. 
Et expecto resurrec- 
tionem mortuorum. 
Et vitam venturi sae- 
culi. Amen. 



the Lord and Giver of 
life, "Who proceedeth 
from the Father and 
the Son : Who, to- 
gether with the Fa- 
ther and the Son, is 
adored and glorified : 
Who spoke by the 
prophets. And one 
holy Catholic and 
Apostolic Church. I 
confess one baptism 
for the remission of 
sins. And I expect 
the resurrection of 
the dead. And the 
life of the world to 
come, Amen. 



The Offertory. 

Consider what an advantage it is to have, in this 
great sacrifice, wherewith to honor God perfectly, to 
thank Him in a manner equal to His gifts, to blot out 
entirely your past sins, and to obtain, both for your- 
self and others, all the graces which you and they 
may need. 



108 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



OHOLY Father, Almighty and 
Eternal God ! how unworthy 
soever I be to appear in Thy pres- 
ence, I dare to offer Thee this host, 
by the hands of the priest, with 
that intention which Christ my 
Saviour had, when He first insti- 
tuted this sacrifice, and which He 
has, at this very instant that He 
immolates Himself for us. I offer 
it in acknowledgment of Thy su- 
preme dominion over me and all 
creatures. I offer it in expiation 
of my crimes, and in thanksgiving 
for all Thy benefits. I offer it 
to obtain of Thy infinite good- 
ness, for my parents, benefactors, 
friends and enemies, all those pre- 
cious graces which only through 
Him can be obtained, Who is the 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



109 



Just One by excellence, and Who 
became a victim for the sins of 
men. 

Accept then, 0 Lord! this in- 
effable sacrifice, as a sweet odor, 
and permit me to unite to this 
sacred oblation the sacrifice of my 
soul and body, and whatever I am 
or have. Change me, 0 Lord ! and 
make me a new creature in Christ, 
as Thou art going to change this 
bread and wine by Thy power, to 
make them the body and blood of 
Thy Son. 

The Washing of the Fingers. 

OH ! what cleanness and purity 
of heart should we not bring 
with us to this great sacrifice ! 
But, alas! I am a poor, unclean 



110 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



sinner. Oh ! wash me, dear Lord ! 
from all the stains of sin, in the 
blood of the Lamb, th^fc I may be 
worthy to be present at these heav- 
enly mysteries. 

When the Priest says, Orate Fratres. 

RECEIVE, 0 Lord! from the 
hands of the priest, the 
sacrifice which is now prepared, 
for the praise and the glory of 
Thy name, for our benefit and 
that of all Thy holy Church. Gra- 
ciously hear the prayers which 
she now offers to Thee, by the 
mouth of her minister, and mer- 
cifully grant us all the graces 
which Thou knowest to be neces- 
sary for our salvation. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



Ill 



The Preface. 



Eaise your thoughts to heaven, to the very throne 
of the Divinity ; and there, with most holy and re- 
spectful awe, pay homage to His glorious majesty, 
mingling your praises with those sacred hymns which 



0 Thou Thyself, 0 Lord ! raise 



J-^ up my heart; inflame it 
with love; free it from earthly 
affections; let me be all in heaven, 
where my treasure is, and on the 
altar, where he is going to be. My 
life, 0 Lord! is a continued suc- 
cession of Thy favors. Oh! let 
my thanksgivings be also uninter- 
rupted; and since Thou art going 
to renew the greatest of sacrifices, 
should I not also break forth into 
the most lively acknowledgments? 
Permit me, then, 0 Lord ! to join 



the heavenly spirits are ever singing to Him. 




112 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



my feeble voice with all the heav- 
enly Spirits, and to say with theni, 
in transports of joy add admira- 
tion, holy, holy, holy is the Lord 
God of armies ! The heavens and 
the earth are filled with His glory ! 
Blessed is He Who cometh in the 
name of the Lord! eternal King 
and God, as He Who sends him! 



Kepresent here to yourself the altar as a throne of 
mercy, upon which Christ is to sit, where you are 
entitled to present yourself, to expose to Him your 
wants, to ask for blessings, and to obtain them. Can 
He, who giveth us His only Son, refuse us any thing? 



FATHER of mercy ! graciously 



receive, by the hands of the 
priest, this most holy sacrifice in 
union with that which Thy beloved 
Son offered up to Thee during His 



The Canon. 




DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



113 



whole life, at His last supper, and 
on the cross. Look down on Thy 
Christ, Thv dearest and only be- 
gotten, in Whom Thou art always 
well pleased: and by the infinite 
merits of His incarnation, of His 
nativity, of His tears, labors, suf- 
ferings, and death, haye mercy 
upon me, and upon all those for 
whom I ought to pray, \here name 
the particular persons '] my parents, 
brethren, friends, benefactors, rela- 
tions, and those who haye injured 
me, or whom I haye injured. I 
also beseech Thee to guard, pros- 
per, and extend the holy Catholic 
Church; to pour down Thy bless- 
ing upon our chief pastor, the 
Pope, upon the bishops, and all 



s 



114 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



the clergy; enlighten and guide 
them in the way of salvation. 
Bless and preserve our rulers and 
all our fellow-citizens. Look upon 
us all, I beseech Thee, with eyes 
of mercy and compassion. Bring 
us all to the perfect practice of a 
holy and virtuous life here, and to 
the possession of Thy eternal glory 
hereafter. Mav we all know Thee ; 
may we fear, love and glorify Thee, 
through the same Jesus Christ, 
Who, with Thee and the Holy 
Ghost, liveth and reigneth one 
God, world without end. _ Amen. 

Why have I not, 0 God! at 
this moment, the ardent sighs 
with which the holy patriarchs 
wished for the Messiah? Whv 
have I not their faith and all their 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



115 



love ? Come, Lord Jesus ! come, 
sweet Redeemer of the world! to 
accomplish a mystery which is an 
abridgment of all Thy wonders ! 

Thou art, indeed, the true Fas- 
tor of souls, Who didst lay down 
Thy life for Thy flock. Thou art 
the Lamb of God, that died upon 
the cross to save us. I prostrate 
myself in spirit before Thee, and 
desire to praise and bless Thee 
forever. 

The Elevation. 

Behold your God, your Saviour, and your Judge; 
remain for a while in silent astonishment at what 
passes before you; call up all your fervor, and all 
those sentiments which fear, respect and confidence 
can inspire. 

HAIL, Yictiin of Salvation! 
Eternal King! Incarnate 



116 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 

Word, sacrificed for me and all 
mankind ! Hail, precious Body of 
the Son of God! Hail, sacred 
flesh, torn with nails, pierced with 
a lance, and bleeding on a cross, 
for us poor sinners! 0 amazing 
goodness, 0 infinite love ! Oh ! let 
that tender love plead nowjn my 
behalf! let all my iniquities be 
here effaced, and my name be 
written in the book of life! I 
believe in Thee; I hope in Thee; 
I love Thee. To Thee be honor, 
praise and glory from all creatures 
forever. 

At the Elevation of the Chalice. 

HAIL, sacred blood, flowing 
from the wounds of Jesus 
Christ, and washing away the sins 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



117 



of the world ! Oh ! cleanse, sanc- 
tify and preserve my soul that 
nothing may separate me from 
Thee! Behold, 0 eternal Father! 
Thy holy Jesus, and look upon the 
face of Thy Christ, in Whom Thou 
art well pleased. Hear the voice 
of His blood, that cries out to 
Thee, not for vengeance, but for 
pardon and mercy. Accept this 
divine oblation and, through the 
infinite merits of all that Jesus 
endured on the cross for our sal- 
vation, be pleased to look upon 
us, and upon all Thy people, with 
an eye of mercy. 

The Canon continued. 



Contemplate, in the most affectionate manner, your 
Saviour here present. Reflect on the mysteries He 
here renews ; unite the sacrifice of your heart to that 



118 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



of His body ; offer Him to God His Father, with the 
several intentions, with which the sacrifice should be 
offered, beseeching the Father of mercy to accept the 
prayers, which His dear Son addresses to Him in your 
behalf. 

IT is now, 0 eternal Majesty! 
that we truly and really offer 
Thee that pure, holy and immacu- 
late victim, which, of Thyself, Thou 
hast been pleased to grant us, and 
of which other offerings were only 
the types. The sacrifices of Abel, 
of Abraham, and Melchisedech, 
were nothing compared to ours. 
This glorious victim, Thy dear 
Son Himself, the perfect object of 
Thy eternal love, is alone worthy 
of Thy altar, and an offering by 
so much the more precious than 
theirs as God is greater than all 
creatures. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



119 



Offer the Mass as a Sacrifice of 



SOVEREIGN Lord of all 



things ! graciously accept 
my humble homage, in union with 
that which Thou here receivest 
from Christ, Thy beloved Son, in 
Whom Thou art well pleased. — 
With Him, I offer Thee His own 
holy sacrifice, for the end He pro- 
poses, while He immolates Him- 
self upon this altar. He alone 
knows the boundless excellence of 
Thy unspeakable majesty. He 
alone fully comprehends the entire 
extent of Thy dominion. He be- 
holds Thee as Thou art, and how- 
all creatures, visible and invisible, 
depend on Thee. He clearly con- 



Adoration. 




120 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



ceives that Thy right is absolute 
over all we are and all we pos- 
sess or can hope for in this life 
and in eternity. It is to aeknow- 
ledge this supreme dominion, and 
to make in His name a public 
profession of our total dependence 
upon Thee, that He renews every 
da) 7 , and that we renew with Him, 
this most holy sacrifice. 



Offer it as a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving. 



OUCHSAFE also, dearest 



¥ Lord! to receive this pre- 
cious victim in thanksgiving for 
all Thy benefits. Thou hast cre- 
ated me to Thy own likeness ; and 
without Thee, I must fall back 
into my original nothing. For my 




DEVOTIONS FOR MASS, 



121 



sake, Thy beloved Son gave Him- 
self up to the cruelty of the Jews, 
and to an ignominious death ; nor 
doth a moment of mv existence 
pass away, without new proofs of 
Thy bounty. Would, 0 Lord ! I 
could,- even at the price of my 
blood, acknowledge, in some de- 
gree, these numberless favors ; but 
the offering I here make Thee, is 
far more acceptable : it is Thy own 
Son ; equal in all things to Thee ; 
the figure of Thy substance, the 
splendor of Thy glory. 

• 

As a Sacrifice of Expiation. 

REMEMBER, 0 merciful Fa- 
ther! that the sacrifice we 
are now offering to Thee, is a 



122 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



representation of that which was 
offered by our Saviour on the cross. 
May it be now again a propitia- 
tory sacrifice. Pardon us our in- 
gratitude. Our transgressions, it 
is true, are grievous and manifold; 
but then, 0 Lord ! it is the blood 
of a God we offer in atonement. 

As a Sacrifice of Impetration. 



bountiful, be pleased now 
to crown all Thy favors by the 
gift of a lively faith, of a firm 
hope, of an ardent charity. Bless 
all my labors ; give me clearly to 
know Thy holy will, and steadily 
to execute it; grant me to per- 
severe in Thy grace to the end of 
my life. Have mercy on the souls 




Who art infinitely 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



123 



of the faithful departed, and par- 
ticularly those whom I am bound 
to pray for. [Naine them.] Deliver 
them, 0 Lord, from their suffer- 
ings, through the powerful merits 
of Thy Son. 

Pater Xoster. 

Here, we are with Jesus on a new Calvary. Let us 
remain at the foot of His cross, with, the tender com- 
passion of the Blessed Virgin ; with the ardent love 
of St. John ; or standing afar off with Magdalen, let 
us weep bitterly over our offences. With sentiments 
like these, let us recite the Lord's Prayer with the 
priest. 



PATER noster, qui 
es in coelis ; sane- 
tificetur noinen tuum. 
Adveniat regnum 
tuum. Fiat voluntas 
tua sicut in coelo et in 
terra. Panem nos- 
trum quotidianum da 
nobis hodie. Et di- 



OUE Father, who 
art in heaven ; 
hallowed be Thy 
name: Thy kingdom 
come: Thy will be 
done on earth as it is 
heaven. Give us this 
day our daily bread : 
and forgive us our 



124 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



mitte nobis debita trespasses, as we for- 
nostra, sicat et nos di- give them that tres- 
mittimus debitoribus pass against us. And 
nostris. Et ne nos in- lead us not into temp- 
ducas in tentationem. tation. JR. But de- 
it!. Sed libera nos a liver us from evil, 
malo. P. Amen. P. Amen. 

Deliver us, we beseech Thee, 0 
Lord! from all evils, past, present, 
and to come: and by the interces- 
sion of the Blessed and ever Virgin 
Mary, Mother of God, and by that of 
the holy Apostles, Peter, Paul, An- 
drew, and of all the Saints, merci- 
fully grant peace in our days, that, 
through the assistance of Thy mercy, 
we may be always free from sin, and 
secure from all disturbance, through 
the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, 
Who with Thee liveth and reigneth 
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world 
without end. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



125 



The Agnus Dei. 



God ; so glorious in heaven, so powerful on earth, 
so dreadful in hell, is here only a Lamb full of sweet- 
ness and bounty. He comes here to take away the 
sins of the world and your sins in particular. "What 
a motive of confidence ! What a subject of consola- 
tion ! 



my sake, have mercy on me. 
0 adorable victim of my salva- 
tion! look clown on me, and save 
me. Divine Mediator! obtain par- 
don of Thy Father for me, a sinner, 
and mercifully grant me the sweets 
of Thy peace. Amen. 



To communicate spiritually, renew by an act of faith 
your firm belief in Christ's real presence. Make an 
act of contrition. Desire most earnestly to receive 
Him with the priest. Beg of Him to accept these 
desires, and to unite Himself to you in the eflfusion of 
His graces. 




God! sacrificed for 



The Communion. 



126 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



WHAT a comfort to me, 0 my 
God! were I in the num- 
ber of those whose sanctity allows 
them to receive Thee daily! What 
an advantage ! could I, at this in- 
stant, possess Thee in my heart, 
there pay Thee my homage, lay 
open to Thee my wants, and share 
in the favors which Thou grantest 
to those who receive Thee really! 
But since I am unworthy, do Thou, 

0 Lord! supply my want of dis- 
positions; pardon me my sins; I 
detest them from my heart, be- 
cause they are displeasing to 
Thee. Accept my ardent wish to 
be united to Thee ; cast Thine eye 
upon me, and purify my soul, that 

1 may soon be fit to receive Thee 
worthily. But until the arrival 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. ' 12*7 

of this happy day, I earnestly en- 
treat Thee, 0 dearest Lord ! that 
Thou wouldst make me a sharer 
in all the advantages which the 
communion of the priest shall 
produce in these Thy people. — 
Increase my faith by the virtue 
of this sacrament, strengthen my 
hope, fill my heart with love, that 
it may beat but for Thee and live 
for Thee alone. Amen. 

The Last Prayer. 

Strive earnestly to offer your Lord sacrifice for sac- 
rifice, by becoming the victim of His love. Immolate 
freely to Him all ainful inclinations, and whatever is 
contrary to His holy will. 

THOU hast offered Thyself, 0 
Lord ! for my salvation ; I 
desire to be sacrificed for Thy 



128 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



glory. I am Thy victim, do with 
me as Thou wiliest. Whatever I 
have, I consecrate entirely to Thee. 
Those crosses which Thou shalt 
please to send me, I most freely 
accept. I bless them; I receive 
them from Thv hand, and unite 
them with those Thou hast en- 
dured for my sake. I am now 
about to leave Thy temple, re- 
solved, with Thy help, to serve 
Thee faithfully. I will struggle 
against my failings, but chiefly 
against that to which I am most 
inclined. Thy law shall hence- 
forth direct me, and I shall forfeit 
all, and suffer every thing rather 
than mortally transgress it. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



129 



The Benediction. 

Receive this blessing from the priest, as being given 
you in the name of the Lord. Thank Him sincerely 
for the favors here granted you ; lay up with care the 
fruits of this sacrifice, and let your conduct be such 
that all who see you may clearly perceive how much 
you have profited by so holy an action. 




OST holy and adorable Trin- 
ity ! bv Thee we have begun 



this sacrifice, bv Thee we desire to 
conclude it ; we, therefore, shall not 
leave Thee, until Thou bless us. 
Give us, 0 Lord! Thv blessing, 
by the hands of this priest ; may 
it ever remain with us ; may it 
influence our actions and be the 
sure pledge of that last benedic- 
tion which Thv elect will receive 
when called bv Thee into eternal 
glory- 

9 



130 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



The Last Gospel. 

DIVINE Word ! only Son of the 
Father ! Light of the world ! 
Who earnest from heaven *to show 
us the way to it, I adore Thy 
Majesty with the most profound 
respect. I place my whole con- 
fidence in Thee. I hope most 
firmly that, as Thou art my God, 
a God made man to save man- 
kind, Thou wilt grant me those 
graces my sanctification requires, 
and also the enjoyment of Thee in 
Thy glory. 

A Prayer after Mass. 

IEAKNESTLY thank Thee, 0 
my God ! for having permitted 
me to assist at the celebration of 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



131 



this holy sacrifice, in preference to 
so many others who have not been 
thus favored. I humbly entreat 
Thee to pardon me the faults which 
I have committed during; it. either 
by my inattention or my neglect. 
Grant that I remember, through 
the course of the day, what Thou 
hast here done for me. Grant that 
no thought, word, or action of mine 
deprive me of the graces of which, 
through Thv infinite mercv, I have 
been a partaker. 



A Devout Method of Hearing Mass 



In Union with the Passion of Jesus Christ. 

Br Sr. Francis de Sales. 



When the Priest comes to the foot of the Altar. 
Jesus enters the Garden of Olives. 

OLORD Jesus Christ, Son of 
the living God! Who wast 
pleased voluntarily to endure mor- 
tal terror and anguish at the view 
of Thy approaching passion, give 
me grace henceforth to consecrate 
all my sorrows to Thee. 0 God of 
my heart ! assist me to bear my 
trials in union with Thy agony, 
that, through the merits of Thy 
passion, they may become profita- 
ble to my soul. Amen. 

132 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



133 



At the Beginning of Mass. 
Prayer of Jesus in the Garden. 

LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the 
living God ! "Who wast pleased 
to be comforted by an Angel in 
Thy dreadful agony, grant, through 
the merits of Thy prayer in the 
Garden, that Thy consoling Angel 
may ever assist me and mine. 

Amen. 

At the "Confiteor" 
Jesus prostrate in the Garden. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who, in 
. the excess of Thy anguish, 
wast bathed in a sweat of blood, 
while praying to Thy Father in 
the Garden of Olives, grant that I 
may participate in Thy sorrows, 
by sympathy, and unite bitter 



134 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



tears of repentance with Thy tears 
of blood. Amen. 

When the Priest kisses the Altar. 
Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 
submit to the embrace of 
Judas, preserve me, by grace, from 
the misfortune of ever betraying 
Thee, and assist me to repay cal- 
umny and injustice with cordial 
charity and active kindness. 

Amen. 

When the Priest goes to the Epistle side. 
Jesus is dragged to prison. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who didst 
submit to be bound with 
ropes by the hands of wicked men, 
break, I beseech Thee, the chains 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



135 



of my sins, and attach the powers 
of my soul and body so closely to 
Thee, by the bonds of charity, that 
they may never again escape from 
the salutary restraint of perfect 
submission to Thy adorable will. 

A me??. 

At the "IntroitP 
Jesus receives a blow. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who wast 
conducted as a criminal to 
the house of Annas, grant that I 
may never suffer myself to be led 
into sin, by the temptations of the 
evil spirit, or the evil suggestions 
of my fellow-creatures, but, that I 
may be securely guided, by Thy 
divine spirit, in the perfect ac- 
complishment of Thy holy ordi- 
nances. Amen. 



13G 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



At the 11 Eyrie eleison." 
Jesus is denied by St. Peter. 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 



in the house of Caiphas, by the 
head and prince of the apostles, 
preserve me from the danger of 
evil company, that I may not be 
exposed to the misfortune of sepa- 
ration from Thee. Airien. 

At the "Dominus vobiscum." 



Jesus looks at Peter and touches his heart. 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who, by 



one glance of love, didst melt 
the heart of St. Peter into a foun- 
tain of penitential tears, grant, by 
Thy mercy, that I may weep for 
my sins and never, by word or 




submit to be thrice denied 




DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



13T 



deed, deny Thee, Who art my Lord 
and my God. Amen. 

At the Epistle. 
Jesus is conducted to the house of Pilate. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who wast 
pleased to be led before Pi- 
late and to be there falsely accus- 
ed, teach me to avoid the deceits 
of the wicked and to profess my 
faith, by the constant practice of 
good works. Amen. 

At the " Munda cor meum 
Jesus is led to the house of Herod. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who didst 
silently allow Thyself to be 
again falsely accused before Herod, 
grant me patience under calumny 
and silence under outrage. Amen. 



138 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



At the Gospel. 



Jesus is mocked as a fool, and sent back to Pilate. 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 



by Herod to Pilate, both of whom, 
though enemies before, then be- 
came friends, strengthen me so 
powerfully by Thy grace, that, in- 
stead of apprehending the machi- 
nations of the wicked, I may learn 
to bear their malice as Thou didst, 
and thus render their injustice pro- 
fitable to my soul. Amen. 



When the Priest uncovers the Chalice. 
Jesus is stripped of His garments. 




submit to be sent as a fool 



LORD Jesus Christ! Who wast 
pleased to be despoiled of 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



Thy garments and most inhu- 
manly scourged for love of me, 
grant me grace to lay aside the 
burden of my sins by a good con- 
fession and never to appear before 
Thee, despoiled of the virtues of a 
Christian. Amen, 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who wast 



pillar and torn with stripes, grant 
me grace patiently to endure the 
scourges of Thy paternal correc- 
tion and never more to grieve Thy 
Heart bv my sins. Amen. 



At the Offertory. 



Jesus is scourged. 




pleased to be fastened to the 



140 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 

JVJien the Priest offers the Chalice. 
Jesus is crowned with thorns. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 
submit, through love for me, 
to be crowned with thorns, grant 
that my heart may be so pene- 
trated with the thorns of repent- 
ance in this world, that I may 
deserve to be hereafter croWned. 
with Thee in glory. Amen. 

When the Priest washes his fingers. 
Pilate washes his hands. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Son of the 
living God! "Who, although 
declared innocent by Pilate, wast 
subjected to the insults and out- 
rages of the Jews, grant me grace 
to lead an irreproachable life and, 
at the same time, to maintain a 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



141 



holy indifference to the opinion of 
men, Amen. 

At the "Orate, Fr aires" 
Pilate says to the Jews, " Behold the Man ! M 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who didst 
submit to the derision of the 
Jews and didst voluntarily wear 
the badges of their insolent mock- 
ery, grant that I may faithfully 
resist all emotions of vain glory 
and appear before Thee, on the 
day of judgment, clothed in the 
sacred garment of Thy humility. 

Amen. 

At the Preface. 

Jesus is condemned to death. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who, though 
the God of all sanctity, didst 
submit, through love for me, to a 



142 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



most ignominious condemnation, 
grant me grace to avoid rash judg- 
ments, and strengthen me to bear 
with patience the injustice of men. 

Amen. 

At the Memento for the Living. 
Jesus carries His cross. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 
carry Thy heavy cross for 
my salvation, grant that I may 
voluntarily embrace the cross of 
mortification and carry it daily 
for Thy love. Amen. 

• At the " Gommunic antes 
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus with a handkerchief. 

IORD Jesus Christ! Who, on 
Thy way to Calvary, didst 
say to the holy women that wept 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



143 



for the love of Thee, "Weep not for 
me, but for yourselves:" give me 
the grace to weep for mv sins with 
tears of holy contrition and love, 
that will render me agreeable to 
Thy divine Majesty. Amen. 

When the Priest makes the sign of the cross 



OKD Jesus Christ! Who wast 



nailed to the cross for niv re- 



demption, attaching to it, through 
Thv sacred flesh, my sins and the 
eternal punishment due to them; 
grant me Thy saving fear, that, 
resolutely observing Thy holy pre- 
cepts, I may be ever attached to 
the cross with Thee. Amen. 



over the Chalice. 



Jesus is nailed to the cross. 




144 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



At the Elevation of the Host. 



The cross of Jesus is elevated between heaven and 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who wast 



cross and exalted above the earth 
for love of me, detach my heart, I 
beseech Thee, from all terrestrial 
affections, and elevate my under- 
standing to the consideration of 
heavenly things. Amen. 

At the Elevation of the Chalice. 



The blood of Jesus flows from His wounds. 



I ORD Jesus Christ! Thy sacred 
-A wounds are the inexhausti- 
ble source of all grace ; grant, then, 
that Thy precious blood may purify 
my soul from all evil thoughts and 



earth. 




pleased to be elevated on the 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



145 



prove a salutary remedy for all my 
spiritual miseries. Amen. 

At the Memento for the Bead. 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 



pray on the cross for all men, 
even for Thy executioners, grant 
me the spirit of meekness and 
patience, that, according to Thy 
precepts and example, I may love 
my enemies and cordially return 
good for evil. Amen. 

At the 11 Nobis quoque peccatoribus." 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 



to the penitent thief, look on me 
with eyes of compassion and say 



Jesus prays for all men. 




The conversion of the thief. 



^ promise the joys of Heaven 



10 



146 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



to my soul, at the last moment of 
my life, "This day shalt thou be 
with me in Paradise." Amen. 

At the " Pater noster." 
The seven words of Jesus on the cross. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who, from 
the cross, didst recommend 
Thy blessed Mother to the beloved 
disciple and the disciple to Thy 
Mother, receive me, I beseech 
Thee, under Thy protection, and 
grant that, amidst the snares and 
perils of this world, I may never 
lose the treasure of Thv friend- 
ship. Amen. 

At the Division of the Host. 
Jesus expires on the cross. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who, before 
expiring on the cross, didst 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



recommend Thy soul to Thy Father, 
grant that I may die spiritually 
with Thee now and so confide my 

eternal destiny trustfully into Thy 

*i *j */ 

hands, at the hour of my death. 

Amen. 

When the Pried puis a particle of the Host 
into the Chalice. 

The soul of Jesus descends into Limbo. 

T ORD Jesus Christ ! Who, after 
J-^ overthrowing the empire of 
Satan, didst descend into Limbo 
to liberate the souls imprisoned 
there, apply, I beseech Thee, the 
merits of Thy blood and passion, 
to the suffering souls in Purga- 
tory, that, being absolved from 
their sins, they may be received 
into Thy bosom and enjoy eternal 
peace. Amen. 



148 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



At the "Agnus Dei." 

Th e c onversion of many who "witnessed the death of 

Christ. 

LORD Jesus Christ! the con- 
templation of Thy torments 
has excited repentance in many 
hearts; grant me, through the 
efficacy of Thy painful sufferings 
and ignominious death, perfect 
contrition for my past offences 
and the grace to avoid all wilful 
sin. Amen. 

At the Communion. 
Jesus is buried. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who wast 
pleased to be buried in a 
new sepulchre, give me a new 
heart, so that, being buried with 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



149 



Thee, I may attain to the glory of 
Thy resurrection. Amen. 

At the Ablution. 
Jesus is embalmed. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who wast 
pleased to be embalmed and 
wrapped in a linen cloth by Joseph 
and Nicodemus, give me the grace 
to receive most worthily Thy pre- 
cious body and blood in the holy 
Sacrament of the Altar, with a 
heart embalmed with the precious 
ointment of Thy virtues. Amen. 

After the Communion. 
The resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who didst 
triumphantly issue from the 
fast sealed sepulchre, grant that, 



150 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



rising from the tomb of my sins, I 
may walk in newness of life, so 
that, when Thou shalt appear in 
glory, I may merit also to appear 
with Thee. Amen. • 



ORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 



blessed Mother and Thy apostles, 
by manifesting Thyself to them 
after Thy resurrection, grant that, 
since I cannot be so happy as to 
behold Thee in this mortal life, I 
may hereafter enjoy the unclouded 
and eternal vision of Thy glory. 



At the M Dominus vohiscum. 



Jesas appears to His disciples. 




gladden the heart of Thy 



Amen. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS, 



151 



At the Post Communion. 
Jesus converses, for forty days, with His disciples. 

IORD Jesus Christ ! Who, after 
^ Thy resurrection, didst deign 
to converse, for forty days, with Thy 
disciples, instructing them in the 
mysteries of our faith, increase, 
I beseech Thee, my knowledge of 
those divine truths and confirm 
my belief in them. Amen. 

At the last " Dominus vobiscum." 
Jesus ascends to Heaven. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who didst 
ascend gloriously into Hea- 
ven, in presence of Thy disciples, 
grant me so to love Thee that I 
may disregard all things created ; 
that I may desire none but eternal 



152 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



joys and aspire to the possession 
of Thee as the first and the best 
of all blessings. Amen. 

At the Priest's Blessing. 
The descent of the Holy Ghost. 




ORD Jesus Christ! Who didst 
send the Holy Ghost on Thy 



apostles, while engaged in united 
and persevering prayer, purify my 
soul, I conjure Thee, that the Para- 
clete, finding therein a dwelling 
well pleasing to Him, may adorn 
it with His gifts and replenish it 
with His consolations. Amen. 

Thanksgiving after Mass, 

T ORD Jesus Christ, Son of God, 
and Redeemer of men! I 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



153 



humbly thank Thee for having 
permitted me to assist to-day at 
the most holv Sacrifice of the 
Mass. I beseech Thee, through 
the efficacy of that adorable Sac- 
rifice, to strengthen me against all 
temptations and to grant that, 
having served Thee faithfully in 
this life, I may hereafter attain to 
the possession of Thy glory. Amen. 



An Abridged Method of Assisting at Mass. 



By St. Leonard of Port Maurice, of the Order of St. Francis ; 
beatified by Pius VI, in 179G, and canonized by Pius IX, June 
29th, 1867. 

Three hundred days' Indulgence, every time you 
use this method in assisting at the Holy Sacrifice. 

We owe four duties to God : 

1. Praise or adoration. 

2. Satisfaction or expiation. 

3. Thanksgiving. 

4. Acknowledgment of our depend- 
ence on Him as the Author and Prin- 
ciple of grace. 

From ihe Beginning of Mass to the Gospel. 

Sink into the abyss of your nothingness before the 
Infinite Majesty of God, reciting the Confiteor, or 
any appropriate prayer ; then say : 



priest at this altar and adore 
and praise Thee with the adoration 
154 




I unite with Thy 



DEVOTIONS FOR MASS. 



155 



and praises which Jesus Christ, Thy 
Divine Son, offers to Thee. I adore 
Thee for the w 7 hole world, for the 
heathens, w 7 ho do not know Thee, 
and for ungrateful Christians, who 
blaspheme Thy holy name. 

From the Gospel to the Elevation. 



V-/ priest at this altar and offer 
to Thy Divine Majesty the infinite 
merits of Jesus Christ, His precious 
blood, His sacred passion and death, 
His adorable Heart, in satisfaction 
for my sins, and for those of the 
whole world. 

From the Elevation to the Communion. 



priest at this altar and offer 
to Thy Divine Majesty the thanks- 




I unite with Thv 




I unite with Thy 



156 DEVOTIONS FOR MASS, 

giving of Jesus Christ, Thy Divine 
Son, in return for all Thy favors, 
spiritual and temporal, bestowed on 
me and all mankind. 

From the Communion to the End. 

Make a spiritual Communion, if you do not receive 
really. 

OMY God ! I unite with Thy 
priest at this altar, and most 
humbly beseech Thee, in the name 
of Jesus Christ, Thy adorable Son, to 
bestow r on me the assistance of Thy 
divine grace, Thy holy love and final 
perseverance. 

Ask here, with confidence, for the fulness of all 
good; for yourself, for the Holy Church, for your 
relations, and for the relief of the suffering souls in 
Purgatory. 

The ahove prayers may he repeated over and over, 
or similar ones used, as no particular words are neces- 
sary. 

After Mass, make an act of thanksgiving and leave 
the church in a spirit of contrition, us if you -were 
returning from Calvary. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Blessing of the Table. 

Before Breakfast. 

BLESS us, O Lord ! and these, Thy gifts, 
which we are about to receive from 
Thy bountiful hands : through Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. Amen. 

After Breakfast. 

WE give Thee thanks, O Almighty 
God! for all Thy benefits: Who 
livest and reignest world without end. 

Amen. 

And may the souls of the faithful de- 
parted, through the mercy of God, rest in 
peace. Amen. 

Before Dinner, 

THE eyes of all hope in Thee, O Lord ! 
and Thou givest them food in due 
season. Thou openest Thy hand and fillest 
with Thy blessing every living creature. 

157 



158 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Glory be to the Father, &c. 
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have 
mercy on us. 

Lord, have mercy on us. 
Our Father, &c. 

f. And lead us not into temptation. 
But deliver us from evil. Amen. 

Bless us, O Lord ! and these, Thy gifts, 
which we are about to receive from Thy 
bountiful hands: through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 

After Dinner. 

f.T ET all Thy works, O Lord, praise 
JL Thee! 

JSr. And let Thy saints bless Thee ! 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

We give Thee thanks, O Almighty God ! 
for all Thy benefits : Who livest and reignest 
world without end. Amen. 

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have 
mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. 

Our Father, &c. 

^\ And lead us not into temptation. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



159 



|£. But deliver us from evil. Amen. 
The name of our Lord be blessed. 
From henceforth, now and forever. 
Vouchsafe, O Lord ! for Thy name's sake, 
to give everlasting life to ail our benefactors. 

Amen. 

'if. Let us bless the Lord. 
|&. Thanks be to God. 
And may the souls of the faithful departed, 
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Amen. 

Before Supper. 

THE poor shall eat and shall be filled, 
and they shall praise the Lord who 
seek Him. 

Their hearts shall live for ever and ever. 
Glory be to the Father, &c. (Continue as 
before dinner) 

After Supper. 

HE hath made a remembrance of His 
wonderful works ; being a merciful 
and gracious Lord, He hath given food to 
them that fear Him. 



160 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Glory be to the Father, &c. (Continue as 
after dinner.) 

On fasting days, instead of the preceding, the same 
prayers are said, before and after supper, as at break- 
fast. 

Prater to the Blessed Sacrament. 
After Dinner. 

BEFOEE this awful Sacrament, let's now, 
Our hearts and knees, in adoration bow. 
When truth appears, let ancient types give way, 
As shadows fly before the beams of day. 
And, since in mysteries, our senses fail, 
Let faith behold our Saviour thro' the veil. 

To God the Father and Son, let us raise, 
In sweet accord, our joyous song of praise, 
And to the Holy Ghost, in mutual love, 
Let every tongue send forth its praise above ; 
In concert with the angelic host, let us sing 
Salvation, power and glory to our King. 

Thou hast given them bread from 
heaven. 

1$-. Having in it all that is delicious. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



161 



Let us Pray. 



OGOD ! Who in this wonderful Sacrament 
hast left us a memorial of Thy pas- 
sion and death, grant us, we beseech Thee, 
so to reverence the sacred mysteries of Thy 
body and blood that we may always find in 
our souls the fruit of Thy redemption : Who 
livest and reignest, world without end. 



RANT, O Lord ! we beseech Thee, that 



VJ* we, Thy servants, may be blessed with 
continual health of soul and body, that, by 
the intercession of the ever Blessed Virgin 
Mary, we may be delivered from present 
sorrows and be brought to eternal joys : 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
Pray for us, O holy, &c. 

After Supper, the Prayer Before this awful Sacra- 
ment, <J*c, is said : that for the health of the family is 
omitted. 



Amen. 



For the Health of the Family. 




11 



162 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Before Spiritual Reading. 



C 



OME, O Holy Ghost, &c. 
Hail Mary, &c. 



After Reading. 



OD is charity, and he that dwell eth in 



charity dwelleth in God, and God in 



We fly to thy patronage, &c. 
Hail Mary, &c. 

Praters said at the Close of the Fifteen 
Minutes of Daily A doration of the Blessed 
Sacrament, in the Morning. 

ETERNAL praise and thanksgiving be to 
the most holy and most divine Sacra- 
ment of the Altar ! 

May the most just, the most high, and the 
most amiable will of God be in all things 
fulfilled, praised and exalted above all things 
forever ! 

O most bountiful God and Saviour ! how 
0 happy are they who, free from worldly con- 
cerns, are able to offer to Thy sovereign Ma- 




him. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



163 



jesty their tribute of praise, of thanks, of 
homage and adoration, for that infinite love 
by which Thou reraainest truly present on 
our altars, under the humble appearances of 
bread and wine ! 

Thou knowest, O Lord ! that I cannot be 
always before Thy holy tabernacle; but I 
will honor and bless Thee as much as lies in 
my power, by uniting myself daily to those 
pious Christians who have associated them- 
selves together to praise and glorify Thee. 
Accept their prayers, O Lord ! and may they 
become likewise mine by a union of hearts 
and desires. 

Ax Act of Oblation to be recited daily for 
the Conversion of Sinners, by the Members 
of the Arch-Confraternity of the Immacu- 
late Heart of Mary. 

I OFFER up to God all my thoughts, 
words, actions and sufferings of this 
day, more particularly, all my prayers and 
devotions, through the holy and Immaculate 
Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I 



164 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



pray for the conversion of sinners, especially 
of those who have been recommended to my 
prayers, and for the sanctification of all in 
this community. 

O Mary, conceived without sin, &c. 

O Mary, refuge of sinners, &c. 

Hail Mary, &c. 



DEVOTIONS AT NOON. 
Prayers to be said Every Day. 

COME, O Holy Ghost, replenish the hearts 
of Thy faithful and kindle in them the 
fire of Thy divine love. 

Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall 
be created. 

And thou shalt redeem the face of the 

earth. 

Let us Pray. 

OGOD ! Who, by the light of the Holy 
Ghost, didst instruct the hearts of Thy 
faithful, grant us, by the same Holy Spirit, 
a love and relish of what is right and just, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



165 



and a constant enjoyment of His comforts : 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
Hail Mary, &c. 

During a few minutes, all in silence make the 
u Particular Exau~ven." The following form may 
serve for private use. 

LET me thank God for all the favors 
He has bestowed upon me — creation, 
redemption, faith, call to a Religious life, and 
particular graces, especially those granted 
since my last examen. 

2. Let me beg for light to make this exa- 
men well, imploring the assistance of the 
Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, St. Vincent, my 
guardian angel, my patron, &c. 

3. Let me make ray examen. (Here, re- 
call to mind the subject of the particular 
examen, which must tend to the correction 
of a predominant evil or the acquisition of a 
needful virtue. This must have been the 
object of some special practical resolution at 
the close of the morning meditation. Enter 
into particulars : see where, how and why you 



166 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



have failed 5 compare the success of this with 
that of the preceding day,) 

4. Let me ask pardon of God for having 
offended Him, and beg for grace to do better 
in future. 

5. Let me foresee the occasions of falling 
I may have, before the next examen, and re- 
solve accordingly. 

Act of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin. 

OHOLY Mary ! my sovereign Queen 
and most loving Mother, receive me 
under thy blessed patronage and special pro- 
tection, and into the bosom of thy mercy, 
this day and every day, and at the hour of 
my death. I recommend to thee my soul 
and body, I commit to thy care all my hopes 
and comforts, all my afflictions and miseries, 
my life and my death, that, by thy interces- 
sion and through thy merits, all my actions 
may be directed 'and disposed, according to 
thy will and the will of thy Blessed Son. 

Amen. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



167 



After the Prayer and Litany for the day, all say 
together the Acts of Faith, Hope and Love ; Glory 
be to the Father, &c, seven times, Hail Mary, &c, 
the Angelus, and the following Invocations : 

MAY the Divine assistance remain always 
with us. Amen. 
And may the souls of the faithful de- 
parted, through the mercy of God, rest in 
peace. Amen. 



w 



To be Protected from Fire. 

E fly to thy patronage, &c. 

Pray for us, O holy Mother, &c. 
Blessed St. Vincent, our holy Founder. 
Pray for us and protect us. 

SUNDAY. 
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity. 

GLORY be to the Father, Who, by His 
power has brought me forth from 
nothing and created me to His own likeness. 
Glory be to the Son Who, by His wisdom, has 
delivered me from hell and opened heaven for 



168 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



me. Glory be to the Holy Ghost Who, by 
His mercy, has sanctified me in baptism, and 
still continues to sanctify me, by the graces 
which I every day receive from Him. Glory 
to the three adorable Persons of the blessed 
Trinity, as great, now and forever, as it was 
in the beginning. "We adore Thee, O holy 
Trinity; we worship Thee; we most hum- 
bly give Thee thanks for having revealed to 
us this glorious, incomprehensible mystery. 
Grant that, by continuing to profess, to the 
last moment of our lives, this holy Faith, 
we may behold and glorifiy eternally in 
heaven what we are now believing on earth : 
One God in three Persons, the Father, the 
Son, and the Holy Ghost Amen. 

The Litany of the Blessed Trinity. 
T ORD, have mercy on us. 



JLi Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. 




DAILY PRAYERS. 



1 



God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 

God, the Holy Ghost, 

Holy Trinity, one God, 

O Sacred Trinity, undivided Godhead of 

Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 
0 Sacred Trinity, true and only Deity, 
0 Sacred Trinity, holy and perfect unity, 
0 Sacred Trinity, three persons in one God 

of equal glory and eternal majesty, 
0 Sacred Trinity, from Whom, by Whom, 

and in Whom are all things, 
0 Sacred Trinity, the essential Being, the 

unerring Truth, and the true Life, 
0 Sacred Trinity, our first principle, and y 

our last end. 
0 Sacred Trinity, Who hast created man 

to Thy image and likeness, 
0 God, the Father, eternal fountain of all 

being, 

0 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
0 God, the Father, of Whom all paternity 

in heaven and earth is named, 
0 God, the Father, Who hast chosen us in 

Thy Son before the creation of the world, 
0 God, the Father, Who didst so love the 

world as to give Thy only begotten Son 

to redeem it, 



no 



DAILY I RATERS. 



0 God, the Father, Who seekest such as 

adore Thee in spirit and in truth, 
0 God, the Father, Who hast adopted us 

as Thy children in Jesus Christ, 
0 God, the Father, Who hast prepared for 

us a glorious inheritance, if we love Thee 

and keep Thy commandments, 
0 God, the Son, born of the Father before 

all ages, 

0 God, the Son, light of light, true God 

of true God, 
O God, the Son, begotten, not made, equal 

and consubstantial to the Father, 
0 God, the Son, image of the invisible j- 

God, the splendor of His glory, and the 

figure of His substance, 
0 God, the Son, the eternal word of the 

Father, 

0 God, the Son, Who, to save us sinners, 
didst take upon Thyself the frail nature 
of man, 

0 God, the Son, Who hast been seen upon 
earth, and hast conversed with men, 

0 God, the Son, in Whom it has pleased 
the Father that all fulness should dwell, 

0 God, the Son, of whose fulness we all 
have received, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



1 



0 God, the Son, Who, for our redemption, 
didst become obedient unto death, even 
the death of the cross, 

0 God, the Son, to Whom all power in 
heaven and earth is given by the Father, 

0 God, the Son, Who, at the last and 
dreadful day, wilt come with glory to 
judge both the living and the dead, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from 
the Father, and the Son, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, the eternal love 
of the Father, and the Son, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, by Whom was 
wrought the glorious mystery of our Sa- 
viour's Incarnation, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, best gift of the 
Father and the Son, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, source of all good- 
ness, and dispenser of all graces, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, the strength and 
comforter of our souls, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, by Whom the 
charity of God is poured into our hearts, 

0 God, the Holy Ghost, the sanctifier and 
perfecter of our souls, 

Spirit of wisdom and understanding, 



112 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



I CD 

^ 3 



Spirit of counsel and fortitude, 
Spirit of knowledge and godliness, 
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, 
0 Sacred Trinity, the object of our faith, 

hope, and love upon earth, 
0 Sacred Trinity, Whom we now see 

through a glass in an obscure manner, 
0 Sacred Trinity, Whom we shall behold 

face to face in heaven, 
Lamb of God, &c. 

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy 

on us. Lord, have mercy on us 

"y. Let us bless the Father and the Son, 
with the Holy Ghost. 

Let us praise and magnify Him forever. 

Let us Pray. 

ALMIGHTY and eternal God! by 
Whose gift, Thy servants, in the 
confession of the true faith, acknowledge the 
glory of an eternal Trinity and, in the power 
of Majesty, adore a Unity; we beseech Thee 
that, by the firmness of the same faith, we 
may be secured from all adversities : through 
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



ITS 



MONDAY. 

Prayer for the Souls suffering in 
Purgatory. 

OGOD of all consolation, sole Author of 
the salvation of souls ! have mercy 
on those who suffer in Purgatory. Look 
with compassion on the greatness of their 
torments : they are more keenly devoured 
by their ardent desire of being united to 
Thee, than by the purging flames wherein 
they are plunged. With them, I adore Thy 
avenging Justice and confess the equity of 
Thy judgments. But since Thou art pleased 
to hear with favor the prayers which the 
members of Thy holy Church offer to Thee, 
in behalf of their brethren, graciously hear 
the supplications which I address to Thee 
for those suffering souls. Remember, O 
Lord ! Thou art their Father, and they are 
Thy children. Forget the faults which, 
through the frailty of human nature, they 
have committed against Thee during the 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



course of their mortal pilgrimage. Ador- 
able Jesus ! Victim of propitiation both for 
the living and the dead ! vouchsafe, in Thy 
quality of Redeemer, to apply the merits of 
Thy passion and death to the relief of those 
souls whom Thou punishest, as their sov- 
ereign Judge. Remember Thy faithful fol- 
lowers and Thy spouses. Let some drops of 
that precious blood which Thou hast shed 
for their salvation, flow on those devouring 
flames; and let the infinite price of that 
blood afford a full satisfaction for their 
offences. Deliver them, O most merciful 
God ! from that place of darkness and tor- 
ture and call them to a place of refreshment, 
light and peace. Grant them the possession 
of the sovereign good, after which they so 
ardently sigh, and for which Thou hast 
created them. Receive them into Thy 
paternal bosom, where they will praise and 
love Thee for all eternity. Amen. 



DAILY PRATERS. 



175 



The Litany tor the Dead. 

LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on the 

souls of the faithful departed. 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have 

mercy, &c. 
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy. &c. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy, &c. 
Holy Mary, 
Holy Mother of God, 
Holy Virgin of virgins, 
Sr. Michael, 

All ye holy Angels and Archangels, 
St. John the Baptist. 
St. Joseph, 

Ail ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets. 
St. Peter, 
St. Paul, 
St. John, 

All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, 
St. Stephen, 
St. Lawrence, 



1T6 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



fc- 



All ye holy Martyrs, 
St. Gregory, 
St. Ambrose, 

All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, 
St. Mary Magdalen, 
St. Catharine, 

All ye holy Virgins and Widows, 

All ye Saints of God, make intercession for the 
souls of the faithful departed. 

Be merciful ; spare them, 0 Lord. 

Be merciful; hear them, 0 Lord. 

From all evil, 

From Thy wrath, 

From the flame of fire, 

From the region of the* shadow of death, 

Through Thy immaculate conception, 

Through Thy nativity, 

Through Thy most holy name, 

Through the multitude of Thy tender mer- 
cies, 

Through Thy most bitter passion, 
Through Thy most sacred wounds, 
Through Thy most precious blood, 
Through Thy ignominious death, by which 

Thou hast destroyed our death, 
We sinners, do beseech Thee to hear us. 



o 

p .. 

3" 

o 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



m 



0 Thou! Who didst absolve the sinful 
woman and didst hear the prayer of the 
good thief, 

That Thou vouchsafe to release our de- 
ceased parents, relatives and benefactors 
from the bonds of their sins and from 
the punishment thereof, 

That Thou vouchsafe to hasten the day of 
visiting Thy faithful, detained in the re- 
ceptacles of sorrow, and transport them 
to the city of eternal peace, 

That Thou vouchsafe to shorten the time 
of expiation of their sins and graciously 
admit them into the holy sanctuary in 
which no unclean thing can enter, 

That Thou vouchsafe, through the prayers 
and alms of Thy Church and, especially, 
the inestimable sacrifice of Thy holy 
altar, to receive them into the taber- 
nacles of rest and to crown their long- 
ing hopes w r ith everlasting fruition, 

Son of God, 

0 Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of 
the world ! Give them rest. 

0 Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of 
the w'orld ! Give them rest. 
12 



178 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



0 Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of 

the world ! Give them eternal rest. 
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy 

on us. Lord, have mercy on us. 
Our Father, &c. 

And lead us not into temptation ; 
But deliver us from evil. Amen, 
y . From the gates of hell, 
Deliver their souls, 0 Lord. 



And let my supplication come unto Thee. 



GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all 



V>J the faithful ! give to the souls of Thy 
servants departed, the remission of all their 
sins ; that, through pious supplications, they 
may obtain the pardon which they have 
always desired : through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 



y . May they rest in peace. 
Amen. 

y . O Lord, hear my prayer. 



Let us Pray. 




DAILY PRAYERS. 



lit 



GOD, the Giver of pardon and the 



V-/ Lover of the salvation of men ! we 
beseech Thy clemency in behalf of our 
brethren, kinsfolks and benefactors, who 
have departed this life; that, by the inter- 
cession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of 
all the Saints, Thou mayst receive them 
into the joys of Thy everlasting kingdom : 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

OGOD, Whose property is always to 
have mercy and to spare ! be favor- 
ably propitious to the souls of Thy servants 
and grant them the remission of all their 
sins; that, being delivered from the bonds 
of this mortal life, they may be admitted to 
life everlasting : through Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. Amen. 



Prayer to our Guardian Angel. 

OHOLY Angel, to whose care God in 
His mercy has committed me, thou 
who dost assist me in my wants, who con- 




TUESDA Y, 



180 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



solest me in my afflictions, who supportest 
me when dejected, and who constantly ob- 
tainest for me new favors, I return thee now 
most humble and sincere thanks ; and I con- 
jure thee, O amiable guide ! to continue still 
thy care ; to defend me against my enemies ; 
to remove from me all occasions of sin ; to 
obtain for me docility to thy holy inspira- 
tions; to protect me, in particular, at the 
hour of my death and then conduct me to 
the mansions of eternal repose. Amen. 



Prayer to St. Michael. 



O GLORIOUS St. Michael, prince of the 
heavenly court, who standest always 
ready to give assistance to the people of 
God ; who didst fight with the dragon, the 
old serpent, and didst cast him out of heaven, 
and now valiantly defendest the Church of 
God, that the gates of hell may never prevail 
against her ; I earnestly entreat thee to assist 
me also in the painful and dangerous conflict 
which I have to sustain against the same 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



1S1 



formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty 
prince ! that I may courageously fight and 
happily vanquish that proud dragon whom 
thou hast, by the divine power, so gloriously 
overcome and whom our powerful King, 
Jesus Christ, has in our nature so com- 
pletely overthrown ; to the end that, having 
triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, 
I may, with thee and the holy Angels, praise 
the clemency of God, Who, having refused 
mercy to the revolted Angels, has granted 
repentance and forgiveness to fallen man. 

Amen. 

The Litany or the Holy Angels. 

LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have 

mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us, 



182 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, 

St. Michael, who always wast the defender 
of the people of God, 

St. Gabriel, who wast appointed to an- 
nounce the incarnation of the eternal 
Word, 

St. Raphael, the conductor of Tobias, 

Holy Seraphim, 

Holy Cherubim, 

Holy Thrones, 

Holy Dominations, 

Holy Virtues, 

Holy Powers, 

Holy Principalities, 

Holy Archangels, 

Holy Angels, 

0 ye, who stand around the throne of the 
most high God, 

O ye., who always see the face of the heav- 
enly Father, 

O ye, to whom God has committed the care 
and guardianship of mankind, 

O ye, who brought forth Lot and his family 
from the midst of the wicked, 

O ye, who ministered to Christ in the 
desert, when He had put the tempter 
to flight, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



1 



0 ye, who carried Lazarus into Abraham's 
bosom, 

0 ye, who often delivered the servants of 
God from prison and dangers, 

0 ye, who often comforted the holy martyrs 
in the midst of torments, 

0 ye, who carry up and offer to God the 
prayers of His servants, 

0 ye, who have joy in heaven upon one 
sinner's doing penance, 

0 ye, who have been set over nations, king- 
doms and provinces, 

0 ye, wiio will attend upon Jesus Christ, 
when He comes to judge the world, 

0 ye, ministering spirits, sent to minister 
for those who shall receive the inherit- 
ance of salvation, 

0 ye, Angels of the Lord, who are mighty 
in strength and execute His word, heark- 
ening to the voice of His orders, 

0 ye, the hosts of the Lord, His ministers, 
who do His will, 

0 thou holy Angel, my faithful guardian, 

Holy Angel, my guide and my friend, 

Holy Angel, my counsellor and powerful 
intercessor, 

Holy Angel, my protector and comforter, 



184 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



7 



All ye orders of blessed spirits, pray for us. 
Be merciful unto us ; spare ns, 0 Lord. 
Be merciful unto us ; hear us, O Lord. 
From all dangers, through Thy holy Angels, O 

Lord, deliver us. 
From the snares of the devil, through Thy holy 

Angels, O Lord, deliver us. 
From all sin, through Thy holy Angels, 0 Lord, 

deliver us. 

From a sudden and unprovided death, through 
Thy holy Angels, 0 Lord, deliver us. 

We sinners, do beseech Thee to hear us. 

Through the intercession of Thy holy 
Angels, 

That Thou spare us, 

That Thou pardon us, 

That Thou vouchsafe to preserve and gov- 
ern Thy holy Church, 

That Thou vouchsafe to grant peace and 
unity to all Christian people, 

That Thou vouchsafe to give eternal rest 
to all the faithful departed, 

That Thou vouchsafe to send Thy holy 
Angels to us at the hour of our death, 

That Thou vouchsafe, after our death, to 
receive our souls, through the hands of 
the Angels, into eternal bliss, 



3 

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w 

CD 
CD 
CD 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



185 



Son of God, we beseech Thee to hear us. 
Lamb of God, &c. 

All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, pray 

for us. 

Ifc. That we may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 

Let us Pray. 

OGOD, Who, in Thy wonderful provi- 
dence, hast been pleased to appoint 
Thy holy Angels for our guardians, merci- 
fully hear our prayers, and grant we may 
rest secure under their protection and enjoy 
their fellowship in heaven forever : through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

WEDNESDAY. 
Prayer to St. Joseph. 

0 GREAT Saint! who art that wise 
and faithful servant whom God hath 
charged with the care of His family; thou 
whom He has established the guardian and 
protector of the life of Jesus, the consoler 



186 



DAILY PRAYERS, 



and support of His holy Mother, and her 
faithful associate in the great design of our 
redemption ; thou who hadst the happiness 
to live with Jesus and Mary and to expire 
in their arms ; chaste spouse of the Mother 
of God, model of pure, holy, and interior 
souls! be touched with the confidence we 
have in thee, and graciously accept these 
testimonies of devotion. We return God 
thanks for the favors He has bestowed on 
thee, and we beg, through thy intercession, 
that we may imitate thy virtues. Pray for 
us then, O glorious Saint, and by that love 
thou always hadst for Jesus and Mary, and 
which Jesus and Mary had also for thee, 
obtain for us the incomparable advantage 
of living and dying in their holy love. 

Amen. 

The Litany of St. Joseph. 




ORD, have mercy on us. 
[ Christ, have mercy on us. 



Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 



DAILY PRAYERS, 187 

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have 

mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us, 
Holy Mary, spouse of St. Joseph, 
St. Joseph, chosen by God to be the spouse 

of Mary, 

St. Joseph, filled with the blessing of 
heaven, 

St. Joseph, first among the patriarchs, 
St. Joseph, a helper given unto Mary, like 

unto herself, 
St. Joseph, the Virgin Consort of a Virgin 

Mother, 

St. Joseph, comfort of the Mother of God, 
St. Joseph, Son of David, 
St. Joseph, after Mary, first adorer of the 

Infant Jesus, 
St. Joseph, the reputed father of the Son 

of God, 

St. Joseph, whom the Lord made master 
of His house and ruler of His posses- 
sions, 

St. Joseph, ruler of the Lord of the uni- 
verse, 



188 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



St. Joseph, governor of the incarnate Wis- 
dom, 

St. Joseph, nursing father to Him by 
Whom all creatures live, 

St. Joseph, organ of the divine Word re- 
duced to silence, 

St. Joseph, saviour of the Saviour of man- 
kind, 

St. Joseph, pattern of silence and resigna- 
tion, 

St. Joseph, head of the most noble and 
most holy family, 

St. Joseph, honored and served by the 
King and Queen of Heaven, 

St. Joseph, singularly beloved by Jesus 
and Mary, 

St, Joseph, just and perfect man, 

St. Joseph, accomplished model of an in- 
terior life, 

St. Joseph, blessed with the happiness of 

dying in the arms of J esus and Mary, 
St. Joseph, piously believed to have risen 

with Jesus Christ, 
St. Joseph, seated on a throne of glory 

near those of Jesus and Mary, 
St. Joseph, special protector of dying 

Christians, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



189 



Lamb of God, &c, (three limes.) 
rf. Pray for us, 0 holy St. Joseph. 

That we may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 

Let us Pray. 

ASSIST us, O Lord! we beseech Thee, 
by the merits of the spouse of Thy 
most holy Mother, that what our own power 
cannot obtain, may be given us by his inter- 
cession : Who livest and reignest world with- 
out end. Amen. 

THURSDAY. 

A Prayer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacra- 
ment. 

0 SWEET and adorable Jesus! Who, in 
the excess of Thy love, art pleased to 
dwell with us in the Sacrament of the altar ! 
I here acknowledge Thee as my Sovereign 
and my God. I adore Thee with the most 
profound humility. I thank Thee with all 
my heart for the tenderness Thou here show- 



190 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



est us, in spite of the treatment Thou re- 
ceivest. Pierced with the sincerest grief, at 
the sight of our ingratitude, I come, O God 
of Majesty ! to make Thee some poor amends 
for all the sacrileges and impiety which were 
ever committed, or ever will be committed 
against this adorable Sacrament. Why can- 
not I, .0 God ! sufficiently testify my own 
regret for having so often appeared before 
Thee with indifference and for having ap- 
proached Thee with so little fervor and so 
little love? Forget, O Lord ! our iniquities, 
that Thou mayest only remember Thy own 
infinite mercies. Deign to accept the desire 
I have of honoring Thee in this amiable 
Sacrament. Yes, I wish with all my heart 
to love Thee, to bless, to praise, and to adore 
Thee here as much as the Saints and Angels 
do ; and I conjure Thee, by this sacred Body 
and this most precious Blood, that I may 
henceforth honor Thee so fervently and re- 
ceive Thee so worthily that, after this life, 
I may praise Thee forever with Thy Saints 
in heaven. Amen. 



DAILY PRATERS. 



The Litany of the Blessed Sacrament. 
ORD, have mercy on us. 



Lord, have mercv on us. 
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of heaven, 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, 
God, the Holy Ghost, 
Holy Trinity, one God, 
0 living Bread which came down from 
heaven, 

0 Saviour of Israel Who art truly a hid- 
den God, 
0 Wheat of the Elect, 
0 Wine which makest virgins, 
0 Bread yielding dainties to kings, 
Continual Sacrifice, 
Clean Oblation, 
Lamb without blemish, 
Food of Angels, 
Hidden Manna, 

Memorial of the wonders of God, 

Supersubstantial Bread, 

Word made flesh and dwelling among us, 




Christ, have mercy on us. 



192 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Holy Victim, 

Chalice of benediction, 

Mystery of faith, 

Most high and venerable Sacrament, 
Most holy Sacrifice, truly propitiatory for 

the living and the dead, 
Heavenly Antidote, by which we are pre- 
served from sin, 
Most Stupendous of all miracles, 
Memorial of the most sacred passion of our 
Lord, 

Gift of God, exceeding all fulness, 
Singular Pledge of divine love, 
Overflow of divine liberality, 
Most holy and august Mystery, 
Remedy which confers immortality, 
Awful and life-giving Sacrament, 
Bread, by the omnipotence of the Word, 

changed into flesh, 
Unbloody Sacrifice, 
Our Food and our Guest, 
Delicious Banquet at which ministering 

Angels are present, 
Sacrament of piety, 
Bond of unitv, 
Offerer and Oblation, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



193 



Spiritual Sweetness, tasted in its very ] 
source, | :r 

Reflection of holy souls> }■ S 

Yiaticuni of those who die in the Lord, 

Pledge of the glory to come, 

Be merciful ; spare us, O Lord. 

Be merciful; hear us, 0 Lord. 

From an unworthy receiving of Thy body 
and blood, 

From the concupiscence of the flesh, 

From the concupiscence of the eyes, 

From the pride of life, 

From all occasions of sin, 

By the desire with which Thou diclst desire 
to eat this Pasch with Thy disciples, 

By that profound humility, which prompted 
Thee to wash the feet of Thy disciples, 

By that most ardent charity, which moved 
Thee to institute this divine Sacra- 
ment, 

By Thy most precious blood, which Thou 

hast left to us on our altars, 
By the five wounds which, for our sake, 

Thou didst receive in Thy most sacred 

body, 

We sinners, do beseech Thee to hear us. 
13 



194 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



That Thou vouchsafe to preserve and in- ] 
crease in our hearts the reverence and 
devotion due to this admirable Sacra- 
ment, 

That Thou vouchsafe, by a sincere confes- 
sion of our sins, to make us worthy of 
a frequent participation of the Holy 
Eucharist, 

That Thou vouchsafe to deliver us from 
all heresy, perfidiousness, and blindness 
of heart, 

That Thou vouchsafe to impart to us the 

precious and heavenly fruits of this holy 

Sacrament, 
That Thou vouchsafe, at the hour of our 

death, to strengthen and comfort us with 

this celestial viaticum, 
Son of God, 
Lamb of God, &c, {three times.) 
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 

Thou hast given them bread from heaven. 
Having in it all that is delicious. 



3 

CD 

cr 1 

CD 
Uj 
CD 
CD 
Q 

cr 

CD 
CD 



o 



Let us Pray. 

GOD ! Who in this wonderful Sacra- 
ment hast left us a memorial of Thy 



DATLY PRAYERS. 195 

passion, grant us, we beseech Thee, so tu 
reverence the sacred mysteries of Thy body 
and blood, that we may always find in our 
souls the fruit of Thy redemption : Who 
livest and reignesfc world without end. 

Amen. 

FRIDAY. 
A Prayer to Jesus Suffering. 

0 SPOTLESS Lamb! O innocent Vic- 
tim ! Who by Thy death and blood 
hast effaced the sins of mankind, blot out 
my iniquities, and do not permit that Thy 
sufferings should become useless to me. O 
Jesus, abandoned by every one, sorrowful, 
desolate, and resigned to death ! help me 
now to receive, with a resignation like Thine, 
whatever afflictions Thou shalt please to 
send me. O Jesus ! calumniated, accused, 
despised ! teach me to look down on the 
judgments of men and to suffer, with 
patience, the most base injuries. O Jesus! 
torn with stripes, pierced with thorns, wel- 



196 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



tering in blood for my sake ! teach me to 
enduro, for love of Thee, the anguish and 
inconvenience of ill health and sickness. 
O Jesus ! abandoned to executioners, shame- 
fully condemned to a cross ! enable me to fly 
all vain-glory and embrace the most hum- 
bling confusion. O Jesus! sinking under the 
weight of Thy cross ! I unite myself to Thee 
and my cross also to Thine — may I ever 
carry it with the same strength and sweet- 
ness as Thou didst. O Jesus ! raised upon 
Thy cross ! draw me now powerfully to 
Thee; Thou art expiring for my sake, O 
let me never live but for Thine, that, being 
henceforth crucified with Thee, my whole 
occupation may be to love, to praise, and to 
adore Thee. Amen. 

The Litany of the Life and Passion of 
Jesus Christ. 




ORD, have mercy on us. Christ, have 
I mercy on us. 



Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



I 



God, the Father of heaven, 

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, 

God, the Holy Ghost, 

Holy Trinity, one Gocl, 

Jesus, the desired of all nations, 

Jesus, sent by the Father into the world, 

Jesus, conceived by the Holy Ghost, 

Jesus, the Word made Flesh, 

Jesus, taking the form of a servant, 

Jesus, in the womb of Mary, visiting and 

sanctifying John the Baptist, 
Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, 
Jesus, wrapped up in swaddling clothes, 

and laid in a manger, 
Jesus, adored by the shepherds in the 

stable, 

Jesus, subjecting Thyself to the law of cir- 
cumcision, 

Jesus, adored by the wise men, 

Jesus, presented in the temple, 

J esus, carried into Egypt, 

Jesus, sought for by Herod, to be des- 
troyed, 

Jesus, brought up in Nazareth, 
Jesus, lost by Thy holy Mother and found 
in the Temple in the midst of the Doctors, , 



193 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Jesus, subject to Thy parents, 

Jesus, baptized by John, 

Jesus, fasting and tempted in the desert, 

Jesus, conversing with men, 

Jesus, choosing poor and illiterate men for 

Thy disciples, 
Jesus, preaching the Gospel of the king- 
dom of God, 
Jesus, healing all diseases and infirmities 

among the people, 
Jesus, transfigured on the mountain, 
Jesus, sold for thirty pieces of silver, 
Jesus, washing Thy disciples' feet, 
Jesus, eating the Pasch with Thy disciples, 
Jesus, making a food of Thy body and a 

drink of Thy blood for the nourishment 

of our souls, 
Jesus, prostrate in humble prayer in the 

Garden of Olives, 
Jesus, thrown into an agony and covered 

with a bloody sweat, 
Jesus, comforted by an Angel, 
Jesus, betrayed by Judas with a kiss, 
Jesus, tied and bound by Thy enemies, 
Jesus, abandoned by Thy disciples, 
Jesus, arraigned before Annas and C alphas, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



1 



Jesus, struck on the face by a servant, 
Jesus, -accused by false witnesses, 
Jesus, judged guilty of death, 
Jesus, spit upon, blindfolded and buffeted, 
Jesus, denied thrice by Peter, 
Jesus, delivered in chains to Pilate, 
Jesus, despised and mocked by Herod, 
Jesus, rejected for Barabbas, 
Jesus, cruelly scourged with whips, 
Jesus, wounded and bruised for our sins, 
Jesus, clothed in derision with a purple 

garment, 
Jesus, crowned with thorns, 
Jesus, with a reed in Thy hand, instead of 

a sceptre, derided and insulted as a mock 

king, 

Jesus, most unjustly condemned to the 
ignominious death of the cross, 

Jesus, loaded with a heavy cross and carry- 
ing it to Calvary, 

Jesus, led as an innocent lamb to slaughter, 

Jesus, nailed to the cross and elevated upon 
it, between two thieves, 

Jesus, Who hast loved us and hast de- 
livered Thyself for us as an oblation 
and a sacrifice to God, J 



200 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Jesus, Who didst wash us of our sins in ^ 

Thy Blood, 
Jesus, praying for Thy enemies, 
Jesus, blasphemed by those who passed by, 
Jesus, promising Paradise to the repenting 

thief, 

Jesus, giving Mary to John for his mother, 
Jesus, lovingly complaining of being for- 
saken by Thy Father, 
Jesus, drenched in Thy thirst with vinegar 
and gall, 

Jesus, recommending Thy spirit into Thy 

Father's hands, 
Jesus, bowing Thy head and expiring on 

the cross, 

Jesus, Whose side was opened with a spear, 
whence issued blood and water, 

Jesus, taken down from the cross, wrapped 
in a linen cloth, and laid in a new 
sepulchre, 

Jesus, Whose soul, after death, descended 
into hell, 

Jesus, Who wast delivered up for our sins 
and Who didst rise for our justification, 

Jesus, Who rising from the dead, diest 
now no more, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Jesus, ascending into heaven, 

Jesus, Who sittest at the right hand of God, 

Jesus, crowned with honor and glory, 

Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, 

Jesus, Who hast gone to prepare a place 
for us in the house of Thy Father, 

Jesus, our Advocate before Thy Father, 
always living to make intercession for us, 

Jesus, Who clidst send the Holy Ghost to 
Thy disciples, 

Jesus, Who wilt come at the last day to 
judge the living and the dead, 

Jesus, Who wilt cast out the wicked into 
everlasting fire, 

Jesus, Who wilt put Thy elect in posses- 
sion of Thy eternal kingdom,* 

Be merciful ; spare us, 0 Lord. 

Be merciful ; hear us, 0 Lord. 

From all evil, 

From a sudden and unprovided death, 
From the snares of the devil, 
From anger, hatred and ill-will, 
From everlasting death, 
Through Thy most holy life, 
Through Thy most bitter passion, 
Through Thy unspeakable glory, 
Through Thy infinite merits, 



202 



DAILY PRAY ERF. 



We sinners, do beseech Thee to hear us. 
That being dead to sin we may live to 
justice, 

That we may glory in nothing but Thy 
holy cross, 

That for the love of Thee the world may 
be crucified to us and we to the world, 

That we may always bear about our body 
Thy mortification, 

That we may crucify our flesh with its vices 
and concupiscences, 

That we may take up our cross, every day, 
and follow Thee, 

That we may seek above all things to 
know Thee, our crucified Jesus, 

That Thy sacred blood may cleanse our 
consciences from dead works to serve 
the living God, 

That, being dead to sin and buried to- 
gether with Thee, we also may rise with 
Thes and walk in newness of life, 

That, looking at the example Thou hast left 
us, we may follow Thy steps, 

That, being partakers of Thy sufferings, we 
may also partake of Thy glory, 

Lamb of God, &c. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



203 



Christ, hear us. 

Christ, graciously hear us. 

^ Truly He has borne our infirmities. 
And He has carried our sorrows. 

Let us Pray. 

OGOD ! Whose only begotten Son, by 
His life, death and resurrection has 
purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, 
grant, we beseech Thee, that, commemorating 
those sacred mysteries, we may imitate what 
they contain and obtain what they promise : 
through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

SATURDAY. 
A Prayer to the Blessed Yjrgin. 

O BLESSED Virgin! Mother of God 
and, by this august quality, worthy of 
all respect from men and angels, I come to 
offer thee my most humble homage, and to 
implore the aid of thy prayers and pro- 
tection. Thou art all powerful with the 
Almighty, and thy tender regard for man- 



204 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



kind is equal to thy influence in heaven. 
Thou knowest, O Blessed Virgin ! that, from 
my tender years I looked up to thee as my 
Mother, queen, patroness and advocate ; thou 
wast pleased to consider me, from that time, 
as one of thy children, and whatever graces 
I have received from God, I confess with 
humble gratitude that it is through thee I 
have received them. Why was I not as 
faithful in thy service as thou wast bountiful 
in assisting me ? But I will henceforth serve, 
honor, and love thee. Accept, O Blessed 
Virgin! my protestations of fidelity; look 
favorably on the confidence I have in thee; 
obtain for me of thy dear Son a lively faith, 
a firm hope, a tender, generous and constant 
love; obtain for me a purity that nothing 
can soil, a humility that nothing can-exalt, 
a patient submission to the will of God that 
nothing can ever disturb. In fine, O glorious 
Virgin ! obtain for me so faithful an imitation 
of thy virtue in my life that I may experi- 
ence the power of thy protection, at the hour 
of my death. Amen. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



205 



Litany of the Blessed Virgin. 

LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have 

mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 
Holy Mary, 
Holy Mother of God, 
Holy Virgin of Virgins, 
Mother of Christ, 
Mother of divine grace, 
Mother most pure, 
Mother most chaste, 
Mother inviolate, 
Mother undefiled, 
Mother most amiable, 
Mother most admirable, 
Mother of our Creator, 
Mother of our Saviour, 



206 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Virgin most prudent, 
Virgin most venerable, 
Virgin most renowned, 
Virgin most powerful, 
Virgin most merciful, 
Virgin most faithful, 
Mirror of justice, 
Seat of wisdom, 
Cause of our joy, , 
Spiritual vessel, 
Vessel of honor, 
Vessel of singular devotion, 
Mystical rose, 
Tower of David, 
Tower of ivory, 
House of gold, 
Ark of the covenant, 
Gate of heaven, 
Morning star, 
Health of the sick, 
Refuge of sinners, 
Comfortress of the afflicted, 
Help of Christians, 
Queen of Angels, 
Queen of Patriarchs, 
Queen of Prophets, 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



201 



Queen of Apostles, 
Queen of Martyrs, 
Queen of Confessors, 

Queen of Virgins, ; § 

Queen of all Saints, 
Queen conceived without original sin, 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, spare us, 0 Lord. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, hear us, 0 Lord. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, have mercy on us. 

ir. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God, 

|&. That we may be mdfle worthy of the 
promises of Christ, 



Prayer of St. Bernard to the Blessed 
Virgin. 

REMEMBER, O Mary, most tender and 
motherly Virgin, how from of old it 
has never been heard of, that any one who 
ran to thee for refuge, implored thy help, 
and sought thy prayers, ever was forsaken 
of God. Animated with this filial confi- 



208 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



deuce, I fly to thee, O Virgin of Virgins, 
my Mother; I come to thee, and I stand in 
thy presence a weeping sinner. O Mother 
of the Word Incarnate ! do not despise my 
words, but graciously hear and grant my 
petition. 

Three o'clock Adoration Prayer. 

Jesus Christ was made for us obedient unto death, 
even the death of the Cross. 

WE adore Thee, our Lord Jesus Christ, 
dying on the cross; we give Thee 
thanks that Thou hast died to redeem us. 
Eternal Father, we offer Thee Thy dear Son, 
hanging on the cross, pierced with nails, 
crowned with thorns, naked, torn and bleed- 
ing, fainting, agonized and dying. Look upon 
the divine victim, accept our ransom, His pre- 
cious blood, in payment for all we owe. We 
offer it for the souls in purgatory, for our 
departed sisters, for the sick, the afflicted, the 
agonized, for the conversion of sinners, for 
the perseverance of the just, for the grace of 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



209 



a holy life and a happy death, begging by 
His passion and death, mercy on our souls 
now and when they shall depart from ours. 

Amen. 

The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin. 

IN the name of the Father, &e. 
I believe in God, &c. 
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is 
with thee. 

Blessed art thou among women, and 
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 
"if. Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips. 
And my tongue shall announce Thy 

praise. 

V. Incline unto my aid, O God. 
Jlr. O Lord, make haste to help me. 
Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Alleluia is said at all times except from Septua- 
gesima till Easter, during which period say : 

Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of eter- 
nal glory. 
14 



210 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



The Five Joyful Mysteries.* 
I. — The Incarnation. 

ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the Angel 



J-* Gabriel saluted our blessed Lady with the title, 
Full of Grace, and declared unto her the Incarnation 
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Then say Our Father, &c, once. Hail Mary, &c, 
ten times. 

"When the Hail Mary has been repeated a tenth 
time, the decade finishes with Glory be io the Father, 
&c. ; then follows the prayer, f 



HOLY Mary, Queen of Virgins! by the 



most high mystery of the Incarnation 
of thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, 
by which our salvation was so happily begun, 
obtain for us, by thy intercession, light to 
know this so great a benefit which He hath 
bestowed upon us ; vouchsafing in it to make 
Himself our brother, and thee, His own most 
beloved mother, our mother also. Amen. 

* The five Mysteries of the first part, called Joyful, are to be 
said on all Mondays and Thursdays, the Sundays of Advent, 
and after Epiphany till Lent. 

finis method is to be observed in each part of the Rosary. 




LET US PRAY. 




DAILY PRAYERS. 



211 



II. — The Visitation. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, understanding from the 
Angel, that her cousin, St. Elizabeth, had conceived, 
went with haste into the mountains of Juda to visit 
her, and remained with her three months. Our 
Father, &c. 

LET US PRAY. 

OHOLY Virgin ! most spotless mirror of 
humility, by that exceeding charity 
which moved thee to visit thy holy cousin, 
St. Elizabeth, obtain for us, by thy interces- 
sion, that our hearts may be so visited by 
thy most holy Son, that, being free from all 
sin, we may praise Him and give Him 
thanks forever. Amen. 

III. — The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, in 
Bethlehem. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the 
Blessed Virgin 3Iary, when the time of her 
delivery was come, brought forth our Redeemer, 
Christ Jesus, at midnight, and laid Him in a manger, 
because there was no room for Him in the inn of 
Bethlehem. Our Father, <fcc. 



212 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



LET US PRAY. 

OMOST pure Mother of God ! by thy 
virginal and most joyful delivery, in 
which thou gavest unto the world thy only 
Son, our Saviour, we beseech thee to obtain 
for us, by thy intercession, grace to lead so 
pure and holy lives in this world, that w T e 
may worthily sing without ceasing, both day 
and night, the mercies of thy Son and His 
benefits to us by thee. Amen. 

IV. — The Oblation or our Blessed Lord in 
the Temple. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the most 
Blessed Virgin Mary, on the day of her purifica- 
tion, presented the child Jesus in the temple, where 
holy Simeon, giving thanks to God with great devo- 
tion, received Him into his arms. Our Father, &c. 

LET US PRAY. 

OHOLY Virgin ! most adorable mistress 
and pattern of obedience, who didst 
present in the temple the Lord of the temple, 
obtain for us of thy beloved Son, that, with 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



213 



holy Simeon and devout Anna, we may praise 
and glorify Him forever. Amen. 

V. — The Finding of the Child Jesus in the 
Temple. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the 
Blessed Virgin Mary, having lost, without any 
fault of hers, her beloved Son in Jerusalem, sought 
Him for the space of three days, and, at length, found 
Him the third day in the temple, in the midst of the 
doctors, disputing with them, being of the age of 
twelve years. Our Father, &c. 

let us PRAY. 

MOST Blessed Virgin ! more than martyr 
in thy sufferings, and yet the comfort 
of such as are afflicted, by that unspeakable 
joy wherewith thy soul was ravished, in find- 
ing thy beloved Son in the temple, in the 
midst of the doctors, disputing with them, 
obtain of Him for us, so to seek Him and to 
find Him in the Holy Catholic Church, that 
we may never be separated from Him. 

Amen. 



214 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Salve Regina. 

"TX AIL holy Queen ! Mother of Mercy , our 
JLJL life, our sweetness, and our hope ! to 
thee we -cry, poor banished children of Eve ; 
to thee we send up our sighs, mourning and 
weeping, in this valley of tears. Turn, then, 
most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy 
towards us and, after this our exile is ended, 
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, 
Jesus ! O clement, O pious, O sweet Virgin 
Mary ! 

'if. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. 
J2r. That we may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 

LET US PRAY. 

OGOD ! Whose only begotten Son by His 
life, death and resurrection, has pur- 
chased for us the rewards of eternal life, 
grant, we beseech Thee, that in meditating 
upon these Mysteries in the most holy Rosary 
of the blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate 
what they contain, and obtain what they 
promise : through the same Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



215 



The Five Dolorous Mysteries.* 

1. — The Prayer and Bloody Sweat of our 
Blessed Sayiour in the Gardex. 

ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 



« Jesus was so afflicted for us in the garden of 
Gethsemani, that His body was bathed in a bloody 
sweat, which ran trickling down in great drops to the 
ground. 

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory he to the 
Father, &c, as before. 



MOST holy Virgin ! more than martyr, 
by that ardent prayer which thy most 
beloved Son poured forth unto His Father 
in the garden, vouchsafe to intercede for us, 
that, our passions being reduced to the obe- 
dience of reason, we may always and in all 
things, conform and subject ourselves to the 
will of God. Amen. 



* These five Mysteries of the second part, called Dolorous or 
Sorrowful, are to be said on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout 
the year and Sundays in Lent. 




LET ITS PRAT. 



216 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



II. — The Scourging of our Blessed Lord at 

the Pillar. 

LET us comtemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 
Jesus Christ was most cruelly scourged in Pi- 
late's house, the number of stripes they gave Him 
being about five thousand, as it was revealed to St. 
Bridget. Our Father , &c. 

LET US PRAY. 

O MOTHER of God! overflowing foun- 
tain of patience, by those stripes thy 
only and most beloved Son vouchsafed to 
suffer for us, obtain of Him for us grace 
that we may know how to mortify our re- 
bellious senses and cut oft 1 all occasions of 
sinning, with that sword of grief and com- 
passion w T hich pierced thy most tender soul. 

Amen. 

III. — Tiie Crowning of our Blessed Saviour 

with Thorns. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how those 
cruel ministers of Satan plaited a crown of 
sharp thorns and most cruelly pressed it on the 
sacred head of our Lord 'Jesus Christ. Our Father , 
&c. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



21T 



LET rS PRAY. 




MOTHER of our eternal Prince and 



King of glory ! by those sharp thorns, 
wherewith His most holy head was pierced, 
we beseech thee, that, by thy intercession, we 
may be delivered here from all motions of 
pride and, in the day of judgment, from that 
confusion which our sins deserve. Amen. 

IV. — Jesus carrying His Cross. 
T~ ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 



Jesus Christ, being sentenced to die. bore with 
the most amazing patience the Cross which was laid 
upon Him for His greater torment and ignominy. 
Our Father, &c. 



HOLY Virgin ! example of patience, 



\-S by the most painful carrying of the 
Cross, in which thy Son, our Lord Jesus 
Christ, bore the heavy weight of our sins, 
obtain of Him for us courage and strength 
to follow His steps and bear our cross after 
Him to the end of our lives. Amen. 




LET US PRAY. 




213 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



V. — The Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ, being come to Mount 
Calvary, was stripped of His clothes and His hands 
and feet most cruelly nailed to the Cross, in the pres- 
ence of His most afflicted Mother. Our Father , &c. 

LET US FRAY. 

OHOLY Mary, Mother of God! as the 
body of the beloved Son was for us 
extended on the Cross, so may our desires 
be daily more and more stretched out in His 
service and our hearts wounded with com- 
passion for His most bitter passion. And 
thou, O most blessed Virgin, graciously 
vouchsafe to help us to accomplish the work 
of our salvation, by thy powerful interces- 
sion. Amen. 

Hail, holy Queen, &c, with the verse and prayer at 
page 214, as before. 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



219 



The Five Glorious Mysteries.* 

I. — The Resurrection of Christ from the Dead. 

LET us contemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 
Jesus Christ, triumphing gloriously over death, 
rose again the third day, immortal and impassible. 

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. Glory be to the 
Father, &c, as before. 

LET US PRAY. 

O GLORIOUS Virgin Mary! by that 
unspeakable joy thou receivedst in the 
resurrection of thy only Son, we beseech thee, 
obtain of Him for us, that our hearts may 
never go astray after the false joys of this 
world, but may be ever and wholly em- 
ployed in the pursuit of the only true and 
solid joys of heaven. Amen. 

II. — The Ascension of Christ into Heaven. 

T~ ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 
Jesus Christ, forty days after His resurrection, 
ascended into heaven, attended by Angels, in the 



* These Mysteries are assigned for Wednesdays and Satur- 
days throughout the year, and Sundays from Easter until 
Advent. 



220 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



sight of His most holy Mother, his holy Apostles and 
disciples, to the great admiration of them all. Our 
Father , &c. 

LET TJS PRAY. . 

O MOTHER of God! comfort of the 
afflicted, as thy beloved Son, when 
He ascended into heaven, lifted up His 
hands and blessed His Apostles, so vouch- 
safe, most holy Mother, to lift up thy pure 
hands to Him for us, that we may enjoy the 
benefit of His blessing and thine, here on 
earth and hereafter in heaven. Amen. 

Ill — The Comixg of the Holy Ghost to His 
Disciples. 

T~ ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how our Lord 
Jesus Christ, being seated on the right hand of 
God, sent, as He had promised, the Holy Ghost upon 
the Apostles, who, after He was ascended, returned 
to Jerusalem, and continued in prayer and supplica- 
tion with the Blessed Virgin Mary, expecting the 
performance of His promise. Our Father, &c. 

LET TJS PRAY. 

0 SACRED Virgin! tabernacle of the 
Holy Ghost, we beseech thee, obtain 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



221 



by thy intercession, that this most sweet 
comforter, whom thy beloved Son sent down 
upon His Apostles, filling them thereby with 
a spiritual joy, may teach us, in this world, 
the true way of salvation and make us walk 
in the path of virtue and good works. Amen. 

IV. — The Assumption or the Blessed Virgin 
Mary into Heayen. 

T ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the glori- 
ous Virgin Mary, after the resurrection of her 
Son, passed out of this world unto Him and was by 
Him assumed into heaven, accompanied by the holy 
Angels. Our Father, &c. 

LET US PRAY. 

OMOST prudent Virgin ! who, entering 
into the heavenly palace, didst fill the 
holy Angels* with joy, and man with hope, 
vouchsafe to intercede for us in the hour of 
death, that, free from the illusions and temp- 
tations of the devil, we may joyfully and 
successfully pass out of this temporal state to 
enjoy the happiness of eternal life. Amen. 



222 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



Y. — The Coronation of the Most Blessed 'Vir- 
gin Mary in Heaven. 

T~ ET us contemplate in this Mystery, how the glori- 
ous Virgin Mary was, with great jubilee and 
exaltation of the whole court of heaven and particu- 
lar glory of all the Saints, crowned by her Son with 
the brightest diadem of glory. Our Father, &c. 

LET US PRAY. 

O GLORIOUS Queen of all the heavenly 
Citizens ! we beseech thee, accept this 
Rosary, which, as a crown of roses, we offer 
at thy feet ; and grant, most gracious Lady, 
that by thy intercession, our souls may be 
inflamed with so ardent a desire of seeing 
thee so gloriously crowned, that it may never 
die in us, until it shall be changed into the 
happy fruition of thy blessed presence. 

Amen. 

Hail, holy Queen, &c, with the verse and prayer, 
at page 214, as before. 

During the fifteen minutes of silence which follow 
the recitation of the Rosary , the general examen is 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



223 



made, for which Bishop David gives the following 
directions : 

THE first point may be an act of thanks- 
giving to the Lord for the benefits we 
have received. 

The second may be a prayer to know our 
faults and correct them. 

The third may be an exact discussion and 
examination of the sins we have committed 
during the day. We must demand a rigor- 
ous account of our souls of what we have 
said, thought and done, hour by hour. The 
same method and order as that given for the 
particular examine may be followed. 

The fourth may consist in asking pardon 
of God for the sins into which we have fallen. 

Prayer of St. Francis Xavier tor the Conver- 
sion or Infidels and Heretics. 

INTERNAL God! Creator of all things, 
.J remember that the souls of infidels 
and heretics were created by Thee and made 
to Thy own image and likeness. Behold, 



224 



DAILY PRAYERS. 



O Lord ! how, to Thy dishonor, hell daily- 
is replenished with them. Remember that 
Thy Son Jesus Christ hath suffered a most 
cruel death for their salvation ; suffer not, 
O Lord ! Thy Son to be any longer despised 
by infidels and heretics; but rather, being 
appeased by the prayers of Thy Saints and 
of the Church the most holy spouse of Thy 
Son, vouchsafe to be mindful of Thy mercy, 
and forgetting their idolatry and infidelity, 
cause them also to know Him Whom Thou 
didst send, Jesus Christ our Lord, in Whom 
are our salvation, life and resurrection, by 
Whom we are made free and safe, to Whom 
be all glory forever. Amen. 



\J Have pity on the "blind ; 
From error's fatal night, 

Free their deluded mind. 
To thy Son's fold, recall 

The unhappy sheep that stray ; 
Protect and lead us all 

To the blessed realms of day. 




DAILY PRAYERS. 225 

The Angelas is then said, after which come the 
usual invocations : 

MAY the divine assistance remain always 
with us. Amen, 
May the souls of the faithful departed, 
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Amen. 

To be Protected from Fire. 

WE fly to thy patronage, &c. 
Pray for us, &c. 
Blessed St. Vincent, &c. 




15 



DEVOTIONS 



FOR CONFESSION. 

I. — -Importance of frequent Confession. 

OF all the means prepared by Providence 
to lead Religious to the perfection to 
which they ought to aspire, one of the most 
efficacious and most necessary is frequent con- 
fession. It not only obtains for us the remis- 
sion of the actual sins of which we are guilty, 
and thereby maintains us in innocence and 
purity of heart; but it enables us to acquire 
the all-important knowledge of ourselves and 
our ruling passion ; it enables us to foresee 
the dangerous occasions which we are to 
avoid; it prevents our imperfections from 
taking root and becoming habitual ; it is, 
according to the admirable expression of the 
Council of Trent, a life-giving remedy; an 
infallible remedy, a quick and sure remedy, 
226 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



22T 



an universal remedy, to heal all the maladies 
of our soul. In fact, experience testifies that 
they who neglect the rule in this respect, 
soon relax, withdraw by little and little from 
the service of God and fall into an insensi- 
bility which may be considered, particularly 
for religious, as the greatest of all misfor- 
tunes in the order of salvation. 

II. — Necessity of preparing for Confession. 

BUT it does not suffice to be assiduous in 
making our confession; the main point 
is to make it well. Not less than a sacrilege 
is in question, says F. Bourdaloue, and it 
would indeed be a strange contradiction, if, 
far from being purified at the sacred tribunal, 
we should expose ourselves to the danger of 
coming from it more criminal before God. 
The sins which we confess may be only 
venial sins ; and by the mercy of God, per- 
sons who are in the habit of frequent con- 
fession, have generally only venial sins to 
confess. Yet, it should never be forgotten 
that, without contrition and a firm purpose 



223 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 

of amendment, there is no sacrament of pen- 
ance ; whence it follows that a confession in 
which we confess only venial sins is null, 
and the sacrament abused, whenever we re- 
ceive absolution without having actual con- 
trition for at least some one of the venial 
sins of which we accuse ourselves. It is in 
order to avoid this, that pious persons have 
the custom of adding in each confession the 
particular accusation of some past sins for 
which they feel more contrition. This prac- 
tice has the twofold advantage of insuring 
the dispositions for the sacrament, and of 
keeping up a salutary confusion for past 
sins, yet it should not make us neglect to 
excite ourselves to contrition for the venial 
sins which we declare in confession. 

III. — In What consists the Necessary Prepa- . 
ration be/ore Confession. 

OF the fifteen minutes of preparation for 
each weekly confession, we may employ 
six or seven in the examination of our con- 
science, and the rest of the time in exciting 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 229 

ourselves to contrition for our sins. Before 
the examination of our conscience, we must, 
with profound recollection, implore the light 
of the Holy Ghost, the assistance of God and 
of the Blessed Virgin. During the exam- 
ination we should avoid intensity of thought; 
think only, but without scruple of the faults 
which we have committed and of what has 
been the occasion of them. In order to make 
this examination well, it generally suffices to 
go over the actions of the day, and think of 
the faults to which we are most subject ; we 
thus remark easily the~ sins into which we 
have fallen ; and if we should have been 
guilty of any into which we do not generally 
fell, they will occur of themselves to our 
memory, particularly if we have been faith- 
ful to our daily examination of conscience. 
For this purpose, w r e may use the examina- 
tion indicated hereafter. 

After the examination of conscience, we 
must excite ourselves to contrition for our 
sins. To do this, w 7 e must first beg it of 
God, because contrition is a supernatural gift 



230 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



which we cannot obtain of ourselves without 
the help of God's grace. We should, there- 
fore, say from the bottom of our hearts, with 
St. Augustine : " Give, O Lord God, sorrow 
to my heart, repentance to my soul, and a 
fountain of tears to my eyes." We should 
excite ourselves to contrition by some pious 
considerations, dwelling particularly on those 
which move us the most, and such as are 
derived from the infinite goodness and per- 
fection of Him whom we have offended. 
These should animate us to the following 
sentiments : first, sentiments of great fear, in 
thinking of the justice of God, Who pun- 
ished sin in such an awful manner in the 
rebellious Angels, in Adam, in the repro- 
bate, in Christ Himself on Calvary, although 
this divine Saviour had only the appearance 
of sin; secondly, sentiments of entire aban- 
donment of ourselves to the hands of God, 
and also sentiments of confidence in His 
mercy; thirdly, sentiments of sorrow and 
confusion at the sight of so many sins, so 
many failings, and so much ingratitude; 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



231 



fourthly, sentiments of love and gratitude 
for a God so good and so deserving of all 
our love; fifthly, a firm purpose of living 
henceforth altogether for God, and of dying 
a thousand times rather than offend Him ; 
sixthly, a close union with Jesus Christ, 
remembering that He did penance for us, 
and that He died for our sins, that in the 
garden of Olives He experienced a bitter 
grief for those very sins which we are about 
to confess; finally, we should recommend 
ourselves to the Blessed Virgin and our 
guardian Angel, reciting the Ave Maria and 
" O Angel of God," or some other prayer. 

Before the Exanien of Conscience, 

Act of Adoration. 

SUPREME and adorable Majesty, God 
of heaven and earth ! I firmly believe 
that Thou art here present, and that Thou 
seest me, and knowest the dispositions of 
my heart. I adore Thee, and render Thee 
my humble homage, acknowledging Thee 



232 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



for my God, my Creator, and Sovereign Re- 
deemer. In testimony of this, my faith, I 
prostrate my sou} and body before the throne 
of Thy infinite Majesty, and offer Thee the 
adoration which is due to Thee alone. 

Invocation of the Holy Ghost, the Blessed 
Virgin and the Saints. 

O FATHER of lights ! Who enlightenest 
every man that comes into the world, 
I am firmly convinced that I am absolutely 
incapable of discerning my offences without 
Thy assistance. O divine Spirit of light 
and truth ! descend into my heart and grant 
me one ray of that light which will en- 
lighten my soul at the moment of her de- 
parture from this world. Alas ! I shall then 
see my sins in their true colors, when it will 
be too late to renounce or detest them ; but 
now is " the acceptable time, the day of salva- 
tion" every moment of which is precious. 
Oh ! do not then refuse me Thy assistance, 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



233 



send into my heart a ray of light, of love 
and sorrow, that I may know, detest and 
confess the sins which I have committed 
against Thee. Mother of my God, who art 
so charitable to sinners that sincerely desire 
to be converted, assist me by thy inter- 
cession. My holy Angel, help me to dis- 
cover the sins by which I have offended my 
God. My blessed patrons, and all ye Saints 
of heaven, pray for me, that I may bring 
forth worthy fruits of penance. 

A Short Method for Examination of Con- 
science, WniCH MAY SERVE FOR THE WEEKLY 

Confession, according to our threefold 
duty to God, our Neighbor, and Our- 
selves. 

I. — In relation to God. 

HAVE you omitted any spiritual exer- 
cise without necessity and permission? 
Have you prayed negligently, and with wil- 
ful distractions? 



234 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



2. Have you spoken irreverently of God 
and holy things ? Have you violated the 
truth by falsehoods or equivocation? 

3. Have you omitted your duty through 
human respect or interest? 

4. Have you resigned your will to God in 
troubles, necessities, sickness ? 

II. — In relation to your Neighbor. 

HAVE you disobeyed your superiors, 
murmured against their commands, 
or spoken of them contemptuously? 

2. Have you been peevish, troubled, or 
impatient when told your faults, and have 
you then corrected them? Have you scorned 
the good advice of your superiors, or cen- 
sured their proceedings? 

3. Have you offended any one by injurious 
words or actions, or given way to hatred, jeal- 
ousy, or revenge? 

4. Or lessened their reputation by any sort 
of detraction? Have you formed rash judg- 
ments, or spread any report, true or false, by 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



235 



which your neighbor was undervalued or ex- 
posed to contempt? 

5. Have you, by tale-bearing or otherwise, 
created discord or misunderstanding among 
others? 

6. Have you been ill-natured or peevish 
towards any one in your manner and conver- 
sation ; or taken pleasure in vexing, morti- 
fying or provoking them ? 

7. Have you been excessive in reprehend- , 
ing those under your care, or failed to give 
them just reproof? Have you patiently 
borne with their oversights and imperfec- 
tions, and given them good counsel and 
example? 

III.— In relation to Yourself. 

HAVE you been obstinate in following 
your own will, or in defending your 
own opinion in things either indifferent or 
dangerous ? 

2. Have you taken pleasure in hearing 
yourself praised, or acted from motives of 
vanity or human respect? 



236 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



3. Have you indulged in too much ease 
and sloth ? Have you carefully avoided all 
thoughts of infidelity, distrust, presumption? 

4. Have you spent the time of recreation 
as directed by the rule ? Have you wasted 
time, spent it in useless employment, not 
directed by obedience, or by unprofitable 
reading, and thereby perhaps omitted or put 
off your devotions or other duties to unsea- 
sonable times? 

A Prayer to Obtain of God the Grace of 
Sincere Contrition. 

I HAVE now, O my God ! aided by Thy | 
grace, endeavored to discover the num- 
ber of my transgressions, and have examined 
the state of my conscience to the best of my 
power. But alas ! O Judge of the living 
and the dead, how far different is my judg- 
ment from thine ! How many offences are, 
perhaps, still hidden from my view, though 
perfectly known to Thee. Bui, my God, as I 
am persuaded that it is not so much a know- 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



237 



ledge of their number as sorrow for their 
deformity that Thou requirest, I now ear- 
nestly implore Thee to give me that lively, 
sincere, efficacious contrition which is a neces- 
sary condition of my pardon. My heart was 
formed by Thee, Thou alone canst change 
it ; it is in Thy hands ; and though most 
ungrateful, most insensible, it is not too ob- 
durate for Thee to penetrate and soften. One 
drop of Thy adorable blood, one of those 
precious tears, which my offences drew from 
Thine eyes would suffice to produce in my 
soul the most lively contrition. Ah ! look 
on me, Eternal Light, and my understanding 
will be enlightened to conceive the enormity 
of sin ; touch my heart and it will be broken 
with sorrow for having ever offended Thee. 
Convert me, and I shall be converted ; for 
my destruction, my misery, and my mis- 
fortune come from myself, but my salva- 
tion must come from Thee, O my merciful 
Father, from Thee, Whom I have so un- 
gratefully abandoned, and so grievously 
offended. 



238 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



Considerations that may excite to Contri- 
tion. 

THE enormity of sin and the punishment 
it deserves. 

2. The goodness of God, Who is offended 
by sin. His special right to your fidelity. 

3. The presence of God before Whom sin 
is committed. 

Act of Contrition. 

OMY God! suffer Thy merciful Heart to 
be moved by my true repentance. Oh ! 
would that the liveliness of my regret could 
equal the extent of my faults ! Supply sor- 
row for me, O agonizing Heart of Jesus; 
distil into my sin-sick heart, one drop of that 
bitterness which drenched Thy soul in the 
garden of Olives. Pardon, O my God, all 
the evil that I have committed or caused 
others to commit. Pardon me all the good 
that I have omitted or done "badly • forgive 
all the sins that I know, or that my self-love 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 239 



hides from me. I detest them and desire to 
repair them at the price of all I hold most 
dear. 

Resolution. 

NOW, O my God ! I desire to immolate 
to Thee all that I am ; I consecrate to 
Thee anew my entire being, to be employed 
in serving Thee alone. Alas ! because Thou 
art good, I have abused Thy benefits in 
order to offend Thee; but I now firmly 
resolve to avoid sin and to shun its occa- 
sions, and labor efficaciously in correcting 
my faults. (Specify the faults to which you 
are most inclined, and which you will par- 
ticularly strive to eradicate.) Yes, O my 
God, I w r ould willingly endure death rather 
than ever more offend Thee. I will fly sin, 
whatever it may cost me. I will avoid all 
occasions of sin. My passions will rise, but 
with the help of grace, I will repress them. 
Henceforth, no more wilful thoughts, words 
or deeds contrary to charity, no more impa- 



240 DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



tience or anger, no more sloth in Thy service, 
no omissions in my duties, no more attach- 
ment to my own thoughts or to my own will ; 
I will lead an entirely different life for the 
future ; I will love Thee, O my God, with 
my whole heart; I will die rather than 
offend Thee more. 

My sweetest Mother, Mother of sorrows, 
by those tears which Thou didst shed at the 
foot of the cross, obtain for me a most lively, 
sincere, pure, sorrow for my sins, that, when 
I receive absolution from the minister of 
God, I may receive the abundant fruit of the 
blood shed by Jesus for love of me. Do 
thou assist me, that I may accuse myself of 
all my sins, with simplicity and sincerity, 
that I may detest them all, and thus recover 
the grace and friendship of my God. 



After Confession. 



O JESUS Christ, Saviour of the World ! 
Who invitest the sinner to return 
to Thee, how shall I testify the joy and 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 241 



gratitude that fill my heart? Oh! that I 
could worthily thank Thee, O my God, and 
acknowledge as I ought that infinite mercy, 
which forgiveth all my iniquities, which 
healeth all my diseases. But, Lord, hast 
Thou not said, that those to whom much 
has been forgiven should love Thee much? 
Oh ! let me then love Thee unceasingly, 
and sincerely begin, from this happy day, to 
serve Thee alone. 

O my Jesus, my Saviour, remember that 
with Thy precious blood Thou wast pleased 
to redeem my sinful soul ; to Thy sacred 
wounds I, therefore, hasten for refuge; vouch- 
safe to impart to me the benefits of Thy pas- 
sion and death. Grant that I may never 
again crucify Thee by any wilful offence, but 
that, sincerely grieving for the past, and 
resolutely striving against present tempta- 
tions, I may fervently persevere to the end 
in Thy love and service. 

O holy Virgin, and all ye Saints and 
Angels, bless and extol the Lord for His 
infinite mercies; beg of Him to accept the 
16 



242 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



confession I have made, to supply, through 
His goodness, all its deficiencies, and gra- 
ciously to confirm in heaven the sentence of 
absolution which has been pronounced upon 
me on earth. 

Prayer to obtain Perseverance. 

WHAT thanks do I not owe Thee, O 
my God ! not only for having created 
me, redeeemed me, and called me to be Thy 
spouse, but also for having waited for me, 
when I was in the unfortunate state of sin ; 
for having pardoned me so often, as I hope 
Thou hast just now done; and for having 
preserved me from so many other sins into 
which I should have fallen, had not Thy 
grace promptly assisted me. 

But my enemies will not cease to tempt, 
me as long as I live, and, if Thou support 
me not, I shall quickly offend Thee again, 
and, perhaps, more grievously than before. 
Grant me then, O my God, in the name of 
Jesus Christ, holy perseverance. This di- 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 243 

vine Saviour has promised that Thou wouldst 
grant whatever we should ask Thee in His 
name; by the merits then of this divine Son, 
O Father of mercies, grant me the grace 
never to forsake Thee. I ask this inesti- 
mable favor for all who have the happiness 
to be in Thy holy love. Yes, Lord, I am 
confident that, if T continue to pray for per- 
severance, I shall obtain it, for Thou hast 
promised to hear all those who pray with 
confidence. But I tremble, lest in some un- 
happy moment I should cease to pray, and 
should thereby be lost. One more grace 
then, I ask in the name of Jesus and Mary; 
it is the grace never to cease to pray, and, 
above all to have immediate recourse to Thee 
in all my temptations, by invoking the sweet 
names of Jesus and Mary. By this means, 
O my God, I firmly hope to die in Thy 
grace and to love Thee forever in Paradise, 
where I shall be sure of never more being 
separated from Thee, and of burning forever 
with the fire of Thy divine love. Amen. 



241: 



DEVOTIONS FOR CONFESSION. 



Prayer to offer the Penance enjoined in 
Confession- 



MY God and my Creator ! I offer Thee 



the penance which I am about to per- 
form ; I desire to fulfil it with the utmost 
devotion, contrition and humility. But I 
know it is inadequate to my sins, and any- 
thing I could do, would be incapable of 
blotting out the least of my offences. Per- 
mit me then to unite this penance as well as 
all the actions, pains and sufferings of my 
life, which I now offer in the spirit of pen- 
ance, to the bitter sufferings of my Redeemer, 
to the great sacrifice of expiation, which 
Jesus offered on Mount Calvary for my sins ; 
also to the merits of the Blessed Virgin, to 
the penance and sufferings of all the Saints 
and all the just, that thereby, the deficiencies 
of my imperfect satisfaction may be abun- 
dantly supplied. 




QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



The following method for Examen of Conscience 
may be useful for the Quarterly Keview. 

X. — On our Actions in General. 

OUR actions may be divided into : first, bad 
actions; namely mortal sins, venial sins, 
and imperfections ; secondly, good actions, either 
ordinary or extraordinary ; thirdly, indifferent 
actions; as those connected with meals, conver- 
sations, &c. 

L On the first article, besides accusing our- 
selves of our sins, whether mortal or venial, we 
ought to say into what faults we have fallen ; 
which are the most ordinary ; whether we strive 
to correct ourselves ; what means we use to that 
effect. 

2. What are our evil propensities and vicious 
inclinations, whether to intemperance, self-inter- 
est, vanity, impurity, detraction ; and what we 
do to change or destroy them. 

3. What is our ruling passion, or that which 
most commonly prompts us to act; what are 
our inclinations ; whether we do not often act 

245 



246 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



through purely natural motives, through human 
caprice, fancy, repugnance, or even out of pas- 
sion, anger, impetuosity, obstinacy, &c. 

4. What imperfections we remark in ourselves ; 
for instance, such imperfections as speaking too 
much, carelessness in the performance of our 
duties, judging too hastily the intentions of our 
neighbor ; whether we are suspicious, given to 
flattery, light, inconstant, not careful to guard 
our senses ; whether we are naturally inclined 
to curiosity, prone to laughter and immoderate 
merriment — all these should form matter for our 
consideration. 

5. In what manner we perform our actions ; 
whether we offer them to God in the beginning, 
and while continuing them ; whether we act 
purely for God, or through human respect, or 
without any intention of pleasing God ; whether 
we are satisfied to perform Everyday actions, or 
love only such as are brilliant, and pass for 
extraordinary. 

6. How we behave in performing indifferent 
actions, and whether we are careful to ennoble 
them by supernatural intentions. 

7. Whether we endeavor to sanctify our meals ; 
whether we attend to the reading at that time, 
&c. 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 24? 



8. IIow we spend the time of recreation, what 
faults we commit, what virtues we endeavor to 
practise during it ; whether, during recreation, 
we occasionally raise our hearts to God, or 
rather whether we do not, on the contrary, give 
way to dissipation ; whether we do not, gener- 
ally, follow our inclinations at that time, and 
foster some private friendship. 

II. — On the Daily Exercises. 

WE must let our director know whether 
we rise and dress speedily, modestly, 
and piously ; how we make our mental prayer, 
w r hat care we take to prepare for it ; whether we 
find it easy or difficult to be occupied with the 
subject of mental prayer ; whether we have many 
distractions in it ; whether w T e experience dry- 
ness, or feel some distaste in mental prayer, and 
what fruit we derive from it. 

2 How we hear holy Mass; with what atten- 
tion and in what manner. 

8. What benefit we derive from the particular 
examen ; whether during the time allotted for 
this duty, we examine ourselves on some fault 
to which wa are more subject than any other, or 
on some virtue of which we have greatest need ; 



248 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



and whether we observe any amendment of this 
fault, or any progress in the virtue on which we 
make our particular examen. 

4. Whether we do not say the beads by rou- 
tine and with distaste ; whether, while saying 
them, we meditate on the mysteries ; how we 
make our spiritual reading; with wiiat atten- 
tion ; whether we derive any benefit from it, and 
what it is. 

5. "Whether we are not dissipated or sleepy 
at night prayer; whether w T e make our examen 
of conscience attentively, and in a spirit of com- 
punction ; whether we listen attentively to the 
subject of meditation, or otherwise prepare it 
carefully. 

6. How we behave ourselves on retiring to 
rest; whether we practise all that the rule 
prescribes. 

III. — On the Hides. 

WE should let our director know, whether 
w r e esteem the rules, observe them with 
punctuality, in a spirit of faith, or carelessly and 
by routine. 

2. What delight or difficulty w T e find in obe- 
dience ; what is our fidelity, what our negligence 
in the practice of it. 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



249 



3. Whether we keep a strict silence, are recol- 
lected, attentive to the presence of God, and 
that habitually ; whether we keep a watch over 
ourselves, that is over our senses and the move- 
ments of our hearts ; whether we do not speak 
too much of ourselves, of our relations, of our 
country, &c. 

4. Whether, by our conduct or manner of 
speaking, we have not inspired others with con- 
tempt for the rules, or for those who are most 
faithful to them, or for those whose duty it is to 
see that they are practised; whether, to justify 
ourselves in the non-observance of the rules, we 
have not given to the most exact of our sisters 
the odious names of tale-bearers, hypocrites; 
called them scrupulous, &e. 

IT. — On the Sacraments, and some other 
Practices of Devotion. 

WHAT preparation or disposition we bring- 
to the Sacraments of Penance and the 
holy Eucharist ; whether we approach them with 
fervor, or with tepidity and carelessness: whether 
we feel delight in them, frequent them through 
love, and not through habit, or with some less 
upright intention ; whether we profit by them. 



250 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



2. Whether we visit the Blessed Sacrament 
with fidelity and love, and how we occupy our- 
selves during these visits. 

3. What is our devotion to the Blessed Vir- 
gin, the holy Angels, and especially our guar- 
dian angel ; towards our holy patrons and other 
saints. 

V. — On Temptations. 

WE must explain whether we have tempta- 
tations ; what is their source ; whether 
they have lasted long ; what they are ; how we 
have conducted ourselves in them; what good 
or bad effect they have produced; in what man- 
ner we have resisted, and still resist them. 

2. Whether we have not experienced some 
uneasiness of mind, or scruples, and what was 
their foundation ; whether they still continue ; 
what are the consequences of them ; for instance, 
whether they cause discouragement, sadness^or 
despondency. 

YI. — On Oppositions and Inclinations. 

WE must explain to what place, to what 
employments, to what persons, these 
inclinations or oppositions may refer. 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



251 



2. Whether we consider the will of God in 
the employments assigned to us ; whether we 
desire others, for what reason, and with what 
intention. 

3. Whether we have charity for our Sisters, 
and whether it is the same towards all ; whether 
we now have, or have heretofore had, a spite or 
grudge against any one, and whether we have 
made her feel it, by railleries, backbitings, and 
even by finding fault with her most innocent 
actions. 

4. Whether we feel compassion for the poor, 
and cheerfully do whatever we can to relieve 
them. 

5. Whether we prefer the society of those 
that are distinguished in any manner, or that of 
the more humble. What is our motive for this 
preference. 

YII. — On Dispositions. 

TT is frequently of considerable importance to 
JL make our director acquainted with the con- 
dition of our health. We should make known 
how we behave in the time of sickness, &c. 

2. Whether we experience sadness, or melan- 
choly ; what is the cause of it, how we conduct 
ourselves with regard to it. 



252 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



3. With regard to our soul, whether we are 
in a state of aridity or spiritual dryness ; what 
is the source of it ; how we behave ourselves in 
it. 

4. Whether we advance in the w T ay of perfec- 
tion, or the contrary ; w r hat inspirations we 
receive from the Holy Ghost, and what virtues 
we endeavor to practice. 

5 With what sentiments we receive repri- 
mands and admonitions; what are our dispo- 
sitions with regard to humiliations, contempts, 
rebuffs. 

8. Whether we practise some mortifications, 
and what they are ; whether we pay particular 
attention to those of the mind, of our own judg- 
ment, of self-love. 

VIII. — On Employments. 

WHAT is our employment ; whether we 
keep ourselves in a holy indifference 
with regard to every employment ; our general 
maxim being not to seek them with eager- 
ness, and also, not to refuse them when offered 
by Providence, through our superiors. " Ask 
nothing ; refuse nothing. " 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



253 



The following suggestions are especially useful for 
postulants and novices ; but may sometimes be profit- 
ably perused by other religious. 

ALL the servants of God have been tried 
with crosses. We must not, therefore, 
be astonished, if we, who have undertaken to 
serve God in the religious state, should experi- 
ence trials that were before unknown to us. 
The best means to lessen these sufferings and 
to make good use of them, is to disclose them 
to our director. 

There are two sorts of sufferings : some in- 
terior and others exterior. 

Interior trials are : temptations, disrelish of 
spiritual things, and weariness in performing 
them, spiritual dryness and aridity. 

1. Temptations. — Make known to your direc- 
tor the nature of those which you experience. 
Are you tempted to pride, anger, revenge ? Do 
you experience temptations against the holy 
virtue of purity? Are not these temptations 
attributable to the too great liberty you give to 
your senses and imagination ; to reflections on 
past associations, &c. Have you been faithful 
to the means which have been suggested to 
you? * 



254 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



2. Disrelish and weariness in spiritual 
things. — Have they not been occasioned by in- 
fidelity to some point of the rule, by neglect of 
little things, by the recollection of the pleasures 
of the world ? 

Have they inclined you to give up all thoughts 
of perfection, or to wish to quit the religious 
state ? 

3. Dryness. — Have you not too eagerly de- 
sired spiritual consolations, and impatiently 
borne the privation of them ? 

Are you not yourself the cause of this dry- 
ness, by the dissipation and immortification in 
which you live, or by some attachment to the 
world and to creatures ? 

Exterior Sufferings. — When you have family 
troubles, or experience annoyances from those 
with whom you live, you will find in your com- 
munications with your director a prompt means 
of recovering peace of mind, and a sure rule to 
guide you in those trying circumstances. 

In conclusion, you will always bear in mind, 
that the fruit of communication with your con- 
fessor depends principally on the following dis- 
positions : — 

The Spirit of Faith. — To see God Himself 
in the person of our director; to speak to him 



QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



255 



as to our Lord Jesus Christ, whose place He 
holds with regard to us, according to these 
words of our Lord to His apostles, "He that 
hears you, hears Me." 

Confidence and openness of heart without 
reserve, in order that your director, knowing 
you perfectly, may give you the counsels which 
are most suited to your situation. Look upon 
him as a faithful friend, and one worthy of all 
your confidence. Bearing this in mind, have, 
no secret from him, being persuaded that he can 
make no use of the knowledge of your interior, 
but for your good; that he must observe the 
most absolute secrecy, not only about your sins, 
but about all that relates to your direction. 
Should fear of being troublesome to your direc- 
tor hinder you from a free communication with 
him, banish this thought immediately as a snare 
of the devil; for as a lawyer does not complain 
of the number of his clients, nor a physician of 
that of his patients, so a good director will 
always receive you cheerfully, to fulfil in your 
behalf the sacred duty entrusted to him by di- 
vine Providence. He will receive you the more 
willingly, because, in the exercise of his minis- 
try, he expects from God alone and not from 
men, the reward of his labors. 



256 QUARTERLY REVIEW. 



In consequence of these reflections, reject, as 
very hurtful, dispositions to duplicity, artfulness, 
shame, human respect ; behave in regard to your 
director, with that childlike simplicity so much 
recommended by our Saviour, on which the 
fruit of communication with him principally 
depends. " Conceal nothing of the movements 
of your soul," says St. Basil. " This manifesta- 
tion is made, so that what is praiseworthy may 
sometimes be confirmed, and at others, what is 
not salutory may be seasonably checked." 

Whenever you have consulted your confessor 
on matters of importance, reflect for a few mo- 
ments after you have left him, either before the 
Blessed Sacrament or before the crucifix, on the 
counsels which you have received, and beg of 
God the grace faithfully to put them in practice. 

Offer to our Lord Jesus Christ, through the 
Blessed Virgin, a sincere desire of renewing 
yourself in fidelity to your rule, and in all the 
practices of a fervent life, particularly in those 
you have neglected during the preceding weeks. 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



Examen of Conscience which may serve 
for the Annual Review. 

On the Commandments of God. 
First Commandment. 
1T7HAT has been my faith? Has it not 



been very weak ? Have I endeavored 



to animate it by often making acts of faith? 
Have I neglected to instruct myself in the 
truths of faith ? Have I quickly rejected 
thoughts and doubts against faith? Have I 
not exposed myself to the danger of losing my 
faith by conversing with bad Christians, read- 
ing such books as might have a tendency to 
weaken my faith? or any unnecessary and 
trifling reading, merely to fill the mind with 
useless and distracting thoughts ? Have I 
sinned against Christian' hope, by want of con- 
fidence in God; by discouragement and de- 
spondency ; by indifference for my salvation or 
perfection ; by presumption, sinning under pre- 
text that God would easily pardon me ? Have 
I sinned against Christian charity, by neglect- 




257 



258 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



ing to make acts of love ; by retaining an affec- 
tion for sin ; by living in a state of tepidity ; by 
forgetfulness of God ? Have I sinned against 
religion, by voluntary distractions or negligence 
in my prayers, irreverences in holy places, dis- 
obedience to some precept of the Church, viola- 
tion of my vows, profanation of sacred things ; 
by making bad confessions or communions ? 

Second Commandment. 

HAVE I ever called on God as a witness of 
such things as I knew to be false, or at 
least doubtful? Have I pronounced the name 
of God lightly, without making interiorly an act 
of religion ? 

Third Commandment. 

HAYE I devoted proper time on Sundays 
and holydays to exercises of piety ? 
Have I performed these actions with true devo- 
tion ? How have 1 assisted at Mass ? Have I 
performed unnecessary work on these days ? 

Fourth Commandment. 

HAVE I failed in the love and respect due 
to parents and relations ? Have I loved 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



259 



them with an immoderate love and obeyed them 
in things forbidden ? Have I endeavored to be 
useful to their salvation, by praying for them, 
withdrawing them from evil, trying to lead them 
to God by good example and salutary advice? 
Have I been always respectful and obedient to 
those of the community to whom I owe obedi- 
ence ? Have I loved my sisters sincerely for 
God and testified this love by kindness in my 
words and behavior ? Have I borne with their 
defects through a principle of religion ? Have 
I indulged an antipathy for any one ? Have I 
promptly rejected every sentiment of aversion 
or dislike ? Have I manifested those feelings to 
others ? "What was the consequence ? With 
regard to the young persons entrusted to my 
care, have I failed in my duty by neglecting to 
instruct and correct them ; by want of vigilance 
or kindness, or by failing to give them good 
example ? 

Fifth Commandment. 

HATE I injured my own health or that of 
others by imprudent exposure ? Have 
I caused death to the soul of some one by scan- 
dal, by leading others to sin, or cooperating in 



2G0 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



their sin, either through negligence or by omit- 
ting what I might have done for their salvation ? 

What a horrible misfortune for a Religious 
to cause the loss of a soul ! 

Sixth and Ninth Commandments. 

HAVE I committed any sin against that 
angelic virtue which ought to be so dear 
to the religious soul, by thoughts, desires, looks, 
words, familiarities, inordinate attachments, &c? 



HAVE I taken anything without permis- 
sion ? Have I caused any damage to 
my neighbor, either directly or indirectly, or 
neglected to fulfil my engagements, &c ? 



LAS ! how many lies are told under the 



j\ t pretext that they harm no one ! How 
often have I disclosed the defects, and perhaps 
even the sins of others, which I ought to have 
kept secret ? 

Have I been guilty of calumny, and through 
what motive ? Have I violated secrecy ? Have 



Seventh Commandment. 



Eighth Commandment. 




ANNUAL REVIEW. 



261 



I borne false witness against another ? Have 
I . given ear to detraction, encouraged others 
therein, &c. ? Have I excused my faults at the 
expense of truth ; been guilty of rash judg- 
ments, ungrounded suspicions, &c. ? Have I 
taken pleasure in hearing others blamed or 
reproved ? Have I misinterpreted the actions, 
words and proceedings of another ? 

Commandmenls of the Church. 

HOW have I prepared myself for the annual 
confession and the Paschal communion ? 
Have I observed faithfully the fast of Lent and 
of the emb*er-days and vigils ? Have I observed 
the appointed abstinence ? 

On the Regular Observances. 

HAYE I held in due esteem the Rules and 
Constitutions of the holy -state I have 
embraced ? Am I convinced of the obligation 
I am under of being faithful in the smallest 
points, even such as do not bind under sin ? 
Have I failed through inadvertance ? Has not 
this inadvertance been culpable through my dis- 
sipation ? When I have failed through weak- 



262 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



ness, have I immediately humbled myself before 
God? — the least fault being opposed to the per- 
fection to which I am bound to aspire. Have I 
transgressed wilfully and through negligence or 
tepidity ? If so, I have been guilty of venial 
sin, the motive of the transgression being 
vicious. Have I transgressed through con- 
tempt ? I have then sinned mortally, this 
transgression undermining the very foundation 
of the vow of obedience. Have I transgressed 
with considerable scandal ? I have then sinned 
mortally, on account of the injury done to God 
and the harm I have caused to my neighbor. 
Have I been in the habit of transgressing 
against the Rule? This habit exposes me to the 
danger of contemning it, and of sinning mor- 
tally. Can a Religious who acts thus be in 
the way of salvation ? Have I induced others 
to break the Rule in consequence of my bad 
example ? Through what motive have I been 
unfaithful? Has it not been often through 
human respect, or the fear of being accounted 
scrupulous ? Have I, without sufficient cause, 
asked for dispensations ? Have I been satisfied 
with observing the Rule according to the letter 
and without supernatural motives ? Have I 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



263 



remained too long in the parlor, at the expense 
of ray spiritual exercises, and contrary to the 
spirit of the Rule ? 

On the Vow of Poverty. 

HA YE I exposed myself to break this vow, 
by neglecting 1 to know and understand 
the extent of it ? 

By my vow of poverty, I cannot own or 
dispose of anything without leave. I have 
despoiled myself entirely of all exterior good>, 
and I am bound to use with moderation those 
things allowed me. I cannot ask anything of 
my friends without the permission of my supe- 
riors, nor receive anything without like permis- 
sion. Neither can I exchange anything without, 
leave. 

Interior poverty consists in detachment from 
all earthly goods, and even from the necessaries 
of life. A soul truly poor in spirit desires 
nothing but God. 
• 

On the Vow of Chastity. 

BY the vow of chastity, I have solemnly con- 
secrated to God my heart, my mind and 
my body. 



264 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



Have I ever been unfaithful to this vow ? 
Have I regarded the sins contrary to chastity 
as the most frightful, the most shameful of all 
vices, from which it is difficult to defend one's 
self, of which the consequences are dreadful ? 
These sins are always horrible sacrileges in per- 
sons under the vow of chastity, and always give 
spiritual death when committed with full delibe- 
ration. 

Have I willingly indulged in thoughts con- 
trary to the holy virtue of purity, under pretext 
that I had no intention to commit the evil ? 
Have I not at least been negligent in rejecting 
these thoughts ? Have I stopped deliberately 
on any criminal desire ? how long ? Have I, 
by any immodesty, profaned the sanctity of my 
body, the members of which have been so spe- 
cially dedicated to Jesus Christ ? 

Have I avoided carefully whatever might lead 
me into temptation, such as dissipation in looks, 
reading dangerous or light works, using demon- 
strations of affection or friendship, through a 
natural attachment, unbecoming libertfes and 
familiarities, even with children, excess in food, 
idleness, immortification, &c. ? Have I endeav- 
ored to preserve chastity by a continual vigilance 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



265 



over my senses and over the motions of my soul, 
by universal mortification, fervent and assiduous 
prayer, a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, 
Mother of all purity ? Have I, in time of temp- 
tation, had immediate recourse to God, invoking 
the assistance of Mary, making an act of contri- 
tion and renewing my holy vow of chastity ? 

On the Vow of Obedience. 

BY the vow of obedience, I have solemnly 
promised God to obey my superiors in 
whatever they would command me, according 
to the Rule and Constitutions, and in confor- 
mity with the divine commandments. I have 
renounced my own will and liberty, to do what- 
ever obedience might prescribe, for the good 
order of the community and my own advance- 
ment in perfection. Hence it follows, that a 
voluntary act of disobedience, in anything of 
importance, is, for a Religious, a mortal sin, 
and may, in some instances, be a sacrilege, 
because by it she violates a sacred promise 
made to God before His holy Altars. 

Have I obeyed my superiors in all things 
good and indifferent — well persuaded that in 



266 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



my regard they hold the place of God ? Have 
I endeavored to overcome my repugnances and 
raise myself above the sentiments of nature, by 
a motion of grace and the desire to please God? 
Have I submitted with humility and docility to 
the advice and reprehension given me? Have 
I obeyed without reasoning on the motives of 
my superiors; without showing any repugnance 
or ill-humor ; promptly and with constancy ? 
Have I murmured against my superiors in pub- 
lic or private ? Have I not persisted in refusing 
some charge or employment, after my superior's 
command to accept it ? Have I labored to 
correct in myself the source of disobedience, 
namely, attachment to my own will and opinion, 
or a disesteem for my Rule or superior ? Have 
I reflected upon the enormity of the sin of dis- 
obedience, and the excellence and value of the 
virtue of obedience ? 

On Eeligious Exercises. 

HAYE I been in the habit of continual 
prayer, according to the precept of Jesus 
Christ, performing my actions in the presence of 
God, and in union with Jesus Christ? Have I 



ANNUAL REVIEW, 26T 

yielded to disgust and dryness in prayer, instead 
of uniting myself to our Lord Jesus Christ in 
the garden of Olives ? Have I not been guilty 
of voluntary distractions, or at least been my- * 
self the cause of them, by not endeavoring to 
put away idle and foreign thoughts, yielding to 
dissipation, indulging irregular affections, or 
doing needlessly things which I knew would 
prove afterwards a source of distraction in 
prayer ? Have I endeavored to instruct myself 
on the manner of prayer, by reading or con- 
versing on the subject? Have I not neglected 
both the remote and immediate preparation for 
it ? 

On Christian and Religious Charity. 

HAVE I loved all my sisters without excep- 
tion and with reference to God ? Have 
I been influenced by sentiments of prejudice or 
antipathy? Have I borne with the defects of 
my sisters, through a principle of charity ? 
Have I been lead away by indiscreet zeal, so 
far as to speak severely to them ? Have I been 
guilty of rash judgments or of unkind, cutting 
expressions; perhaps for small faults of levity 



268 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



or inadvertence, or for some little want of com- 
plaisance, &c. ? Have I entertained a dislike or 
hatred of any one ? Have I manifested it before 
others ? Have I made due reparation ? Have 
I given any cause for pain or displeasure to 
others ; been wanting in patience and forbear- 
ance ? Have I indulged in private friendships, 
so particularly forbidden in religious commu- 
nities ? Have I been guilty of calumny or 
untruth ; or of over-hastily condemning and 
accusing others, even at the risk of telling an 
untruth ? Have I misconstrued the actions or 
intentions of others ? Have I disparaged the 
good qualities of others ; or observed a sullen 
silence when they were praised ? Have I en- 
deavored to hinder others from calumny and 
detraction, either by using authority, (if I had 
it,) or by trying dexterously to change the sub- 
ject of discourse, or by showing my disapproba- 
tion by silence ? Have I endeavored to make 
reparation, when I have injured the character 
of another? Have I repeated what I have 
heard against another? Have these reports 
caused trouble or disunion ? Have I quickly 
rejected and disavowed all rash judgments and 
unfavorable suspicions? 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



269 



On Confession. 

HAYE I confessed through pure habit, 
without sincere sorrow and a firm pur- 
pose of amendment, not taking the means to 
prevent relapse ? Have I confessed without 
grief for my known venial sins, and without the 
design to correct myself? Have I, in such 
cases, taken care to confess some more grievous 
sin of my past life, in order to excite compunc- 
tion ? Have I always endeavored to rouse 
myself to contrition before confession ? Has 
shame ever induced me to conceal a mortal sin 
in confession ? Have I in subsequent confes- 
sions acknowledged this crime ? Having in- 
voluntarily forgotten some mortal sin, have I 
accused myself of it as soon as possible ? Have 
I failed to confess sins which I thought might 
be grievous ? Have I been docile and obedient 
to my confessor ? 

On Communion. 

THROUGH what motive have I approached 
the holy table ? Has it been through 
custom or human respect, and without due pre- 



270 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



paration ? Have I proposed to myself to be 
intimately united to Jesus Christ, to live His 
life, to be animated with His sentiments, and 
to be transformed into Him ? Have I brought 
to the holy Communion the remote and imme- 
diate dispositions which this great sacrament 
requires? Have I, to that end, made some sac- 
rifices and been truly penetrated with senti- 
ments of religion ? Has my desire for perfec- 
tion increased in proportion to the frequency of 
my communions ? 

Have I approached the holy table as often as 
the rule permits me ? or have I neglected to 
communicate, under pretext of respect, but in 
reality through indifference for Jesus Christ arid 
for my salvation; through attachment to some 
idle gratification ; through propensity to levity 
and dissipation of mind, &c. ? Have I given 
scandal by seldom approaching the holy table ? 
Have I omitted a Communion of precept? Have 
I been guilty of a sacrilegious Communion ? 

On Scruples. 

BEING naturally scrupulous, by a melan- « 
choly or timid disposition, have I encleav- 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



271 



♦ orecl to correct myself by considering the motives 
I have to hope in God ? Have I tried to excite 
in myself sentiments of confidence and love ? 
Have I taken the best of all means, obedience 
to my Superiors and Director, knowing that in 
my regard they hold the place of God ? Have 
I, in these trials, prayed fervently and despised 
the suggestions of the enemy ? Have I sub- 
mitted to these interior pains as a just punish- 
ment for my sins ? 

On Perfection. 

HAVE I had a true zeal for my perfection ? 
Religious perfection consists in observ- 
ing our vows and rules with great fidelity and 
love ; in performing the most common actions 
with a design to please'God; in frequently im- 
pelling the heart to acts of religion; in the re- 
nunciation of our will and judgment and of our 
convenience, &c. ; in the practice of obedience, 
humility and unalterable meekness. Is it thus 
I have labored for my perfection ? Am I at 
present in the disposition to do so? Do I sin- 
cerely desire to become perfect ? 



212 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



For a Superior. 

With regard to Herself. 

HAVE I dreaded superiority? Have I de- 
sired and sought for it ? Have I been 
convinced of my unworthiness and incapacity 
for it ? Was it only to accomplish the will of 
God I accepted it? Have I endeavored to be 
more humble ever since I received the charge ? 
Have I not thrown the burden on others instead 
of attending to my duty ? 

With regard to Exlerns. 

HAVE I not too much communication with 
externs ? Have my duties suffered 
thereby ? Have I taken care to edify them by 
my charity, regularity, meekness and holy con- 
versation ? 

With regard to the Sisters. 

HAVE I, towards my sisters, the heart of 
a mother, and does my attachment for 
them centre in God? Do I endeavor, accord- 
ing to their character and disposition, to lead 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 273 



them on in the way of virtue and piety? Have 
I been careful to see that all were instructed 
properly in their duties and obligations? Have 
I shown either a preference or dislike for any 
one ? Have I, for want of firmness or zeal, 
tolerated any abuses or irregularities ? Have 
I, through want of charity or prudence, caused 
any one to close her heart against me and with- 
draw her wonted confidence ? Have I endeav- 
ored to distribute employments according to the 
capacity and merit of each one? Have I tried 
to be always the most regular and exact in 
everything ? Have I been cautious to prevent 
those under my charge from forming useless and 
unnecessary acquaintance, losing their time and 
neglecting their occupations by unnecessary in- 
tercourse and conversation with externs, &e. ? 
Have I, through human respect, or for fear of 
causing pain, dislike, &c, failed to admonish 
them of their faults ? And have I, in the mean- 
time, been over-hasty and perhaps guilty of 
some exaggeration in my complaints against 
them to my superiors ? Have I been too hasty 
in writing complaints to my superiors, actuated, 
perhaps, by anger or resentment ; and have 
I forwarded such complaints without having 
18 



2T4 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



begged the light of heaven, and waited to ex- 
amine if ray motives were pure and if charity 
could sanction such reports ? Before admonish- 
ing or correcting any one, have I raised my 
heart to God and begged for light and grace, 
that my correction might produce the desired 
effect? Have I been meek, patient and gentle 
in admonishing them ? Have I endeavored to 
make them feel my authority; or acted in an 
unfeeling and haughty manner, as if they were 
my inferiors and not my sisters ? Have I failed 
to treat them with respectful cordiality and as 
much condescension as my situation and their 
faults or particular turn of character would per- 
mit ? Have I received their apologies or acts of 
reparation with becoming kindness, and shown 
them that I wished to correct the fault and -not 
the person ? Have I been particular in enquir- 
ing into the manner of my sisters discharging 
their duties, both spiritual and temporal ? Have 
I remembered that my main duty was to fofm 
their hearts to virtue and draw them to God ? 
Have I not on the contrary endeavored to gain 
their affections ? Such an act in a religious 
person is a kind of sacrilege and idolatry. 



ANNUAL REVIEW. 



2,5 



With reqard to God. 

HA YE I ardently desired to see Him served 
with fervor by all under my charge? 
Have I continually offered them to God, per- 
forming in their regard the office of mediatrix, 
supplicating Him to turn away His anger from 
those who have offended Him, and to grant to 
all those graces of which they have need? Have 
I considered Jesus Christ as the first Superior 
of the community, and His holy Mother as the 
first Superioress? Have I undertaken anything 
without first recommending it to God ? 



DEVOTIONS 

FOR COMMUNION. 



Preparation for Communion. 



UR Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, present in 



the Most Blessed Sacrament, is continually 
with His spouses ; He dwells with them, awaits their 
visits in the tabernacle of His love. They receive 
Him spiritually, when they please, by fervent desires 
and devout aspirations, and they frequently receive 
Him sacramentally into their hearts. According to 
the holy disposition of the religious soul and its free- 
dom from all worldly vanities and attachment to 
creatures, the copious benedictions of divine grace 
will flow into it from this fountain and source of 
spiritual treasures, Jesus Christ Himself, " Who 
openeth His hand and filleth with blessing every 
living creature." St. Ambrose says: "We find in 
Jesus our all ; He alone is all things to us ; if we 
desire to be healed of our wounds, He* is our physi- 
cian ; if we be loaded with sins, He is our justifica- 
tion ; if we require help, He is our strength ; if we 
fear death, He is our life ; if we desire heaven, He 




216 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 2T7 



is our way to it ; if we seek nourishment, He is our 
celestial and divine food, Who alone can satiate and 
replenish all our desires." 

Let us then come to Him with great confidence 
and love. But remember that she who has Jesus 
Christ for her inheritance and possession, should also 
be His inheritance ; and that no one can perfectly 
possess Him if she be not perfectly possessed by Him. 
Eeflect seriously on this, and examine your heart 
before you approach the holy Communion to see that 
it is entirely detached from sin ; present it to our 
Lord as an empty vessel, ready to be filled by His 
grace. Listen to the counsel of Jesus, spoken from 
the pages of the Imitation of the Sacred Heart : 

il Beware, my child, lest thou approach the Holy 
Communion for form's sake or through custom, as it 
were, without any purpose ; nor be thou less on thy 
guard, lest thou go to it in order that thou may est 
appear devout, or, on the contrary, that thou mayest 
avoid reproach; or, lastly, that thou mayest experi- 
ence sensible consolation. Prepare a place for Me, 
in which there is not only no stain, but wherein also 
everything is becomingly adorned. 

"If thou considerest well whom thou art about to 
receive, thou wilt indeed acknowledge that, even if 
thou didst possess the innocence of Angels, thou 
oughtest still to prepare thyself with the utmost care. 
For with how great a purity, how great a holiness, 
should his body and soul be adorned, who does" not 
merely approach and embrace purity itself, sanctity 



278 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



itself, but receives the same, is incorporated with the 
same ! Do then whatsoever thou canst to prepare 
thyself in body and soul for this great work. Pro- 
ceed with straightforwardness, follow after things 
pure and holy, according to the divine good pleasure, 
from which thou oughtest for no consideration what- 
soever to turn aside ; for whatsoever is foreign thereto 
is of no value, how good soever it may appear. And 
when thou hast done all thou oughtest and canst, 
acknowledge that thou art unworthy to receive 
Me, to enter into divine companionship with Me. 
"What more do I ask than a soul truly humble, in 
which My soul finds its delight, upon which My 
heart may pour out the abundance of its graces, 
and which My pure love may pervade, transport, 
transform ? 

"As the love of My heart in this mystery is exceed- 
ing and pours itself out without measure, without re- 
striction, so, child, when thou becomest a partaker 
of the same, give thyself wholly up, without limit, 
without conditions to the divine love. This living 
love, this pure affection, this entire surrendering of 
thyself is the highest preparation for Holy Commu- 
nion ; because it is the nearest disposition to the 
divine union. Here, therefore, do thou linger ; here 
act with thy whole heart ; ask, give, according as the 
spirit of grace shall teach or direct thee." 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 279 



Prayers before Communion. 

From St. Liguori. 
Act of Faith. 

'•Behold, He cometh, leaping upon the mountains, 
skipping over the hills." [Cant, ii, 8.) 

AH! my most amiable Saviour! over how 
many, what rough and craggy moun- 
tains hast Thou had to pass in order to come 
and unite Thyself to me by means of this 
most holy Sacrament ! Thou, from being 
God, hadst to become man; from being im- 
mense, to become a babe ; from being Lord, 
to become a servant. Thou hadst to pass 
from the bosom of the Eternal Father to 
the womb of a virgin ; from heaven into a 
stable ; from a throne of glory to the gibbet 
of a criminal. And on this very morning, 
Thou wilt come from Thy seat in heaven to 
dwell in my bosom. 

"Behold, He standeth behind our wall, 
looking through the windows, looking 
through the lattices. {Cant, ii, 9.) Behold, 



280 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 

O my soul, thy loving Jesus, burning with 
the same love with which He loved thee 
when dying for thee on the cross, is now 
concealed in the Most Blessed Sacrament, 
under the sacred species. And what doing? 
" Looking through the lattices." As an 
ardent lover, desirous to see his love corres- 
ponded with, from the Host, as from within 
closed lattices, whence He sees without being 
seen, He is looking at you who are, this 
morning, about to feed upon His divine 
flesh ; He observes your thoughts, what it 
is you love, what you desire, what you seek, 
and what offerings you are about to make 
Him. 

Awake, then, my soul, and prepare to 
meet thy Jesus; and, in the first place, by 
faith, say to him : O hidden God, unknown 
to the greater part of men, I believe, I con- 
fess, I adore Thee, in the Most Holy Sacra- 
ment, as my Saviour and my Lord ! And 
in acknowledgment of this truth, I would 
willingly lay down my life. Thou comest 
to enrich me with Thy graces, and to unite 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 281 



Thyself all to me; how great then should 
be my confidence in this so loving visit ! 

Act of Confidence. 

MY sou], expand thy heart ! Thy Jesus 
can do thee every good, and indeed, 
loves thee. Hope thou for great things from 
this thy Lord, Who, urged by love comes 
all love to thee. Yes, my dear Jesus, my 
Hope, I trust in Thy goodness, that,- in 
giving Thyself to me this morning, Thou 
wilt enkindle in my poor heart the beautiful 
flame of Thy pure love, and a real desire 
to please Thee ; so that, from this day for- 
ward, I may never will anything but what 
Thou wiliest. 

Act of Love. 

AH ! my God, my God ! true and only 
love of my soul, what more couldst 
Thou have done to be loved by me? To 
die for me was not enough for Thee, my 
Lord; Thou wast pleased to institute this 



282 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



great Sacrament in order to give Thyself all 
to me, and thus bind and unite Thyself 
heart to heart with so loathsome and un- 
grateful a creature as I am. And what is 
more, Thou Thyself invitest me to receive 
Thee, and desirest so much that I should do 
so ! O boundless love ! incomprehensible 
love! infinite love! A God would give 
Himself all to me ! 

My soul, believest thou this ? O God, O 
God ! O infinite amiability, alone worthy of 
all love, I love Thee with my whole heart, 
I love Thee above all things, I love Thee 
more than myself, more than my life ! Oh, 
could I but see Thee loved by all ! Oh, 
could I but cause Thee to be loved by all 
hearts as much as Thou deservest ! I love 
Thee, O most amiable God, and I unite my 
miserable heart in loving Thee to the hearts 
of the seraphim, to the heart of the Most 
Blessed Virgin Mary, to the Heart of Jesus, 
Thy most loving and most beloved Son. So 
that, O infinite Good, I love Thee with the 
love with which the Saints, with which 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



283 



Mary, with which Jesus loves Thee. And 
I love Thee only because Thou art worthy 
of it, and to give Thee pleasure. Depart, 
all earthly affections which are not for God, 
depart from my heart. Mother of fair love, 
Most Holy Virgin Mary, help me to love 
that God Whom thou dost so ardently desire 
to see loved ! 

Act op Humility. 

THEN, my soul, thou art even now about 
to feed on the most sacred flesh of 
Jesus! And art thou worthy? My God, 
who am I and who art Thou? I indeed 
know and confess whom Thou art Who giv- 
est Thyself to me; but dost Thou know 
what I am, who am about to receive Thee? 
Is it possible^ O my Jesus, that Thou Who 
art infinite purity, desirest to come and reside 
in this soul of mine, which has been so manv 
times the dwelling of Thy. enemy, and soiled 
with so many sins? I know, O my Lord, 
Thy great majesty and my misery ; I am 
ashamed to appear before Thee. Reverence 



284 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 

would induce me to keep at a distance from 
Thee ; but if I depart from Thee, O my life, 
whither shall I go? to whom shall I have 
recourse? and what will become of me? 
No, never will I depart from Thee; nay, 
even, I will ever draw nearer and nearer to 
Thee. Thou art satisfied that I should re- 
ceive Thee as my food, Thou even invitest 
me to this. I come then, O my amiable 
Saviour, I come to receive Thee this morn- 
ing, all humbled and confused at the sight 
of my defects, but full of confidence in Thy 
tender mercy, and in the love Thou bearest 
me. 

Act of Contrition. 

I AM indeed grieved, O God of my soul ! 
for not having loved Thee during the 
time past ; so far from loving Thee, I have, to 
gratify my own inclinations, greatly offended 
and outraged Thy infinite goodness : I have 
turned my back against Thee, I have de- 
spised Thy grace and friendship ; in fine, O 
my God, I was deliberately in the disposi- 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 285 



tion to lose Thee. Lord, I am sorry, and I 
grieve for it with my whole heart. I detest 
the sins which I have committed, be they 
great or small, as the greatest of all my mis- 
fortunes, because I have thereby offended 
Thee, O infinite Goodness. I trust that 
Thou hast already forgiven me ; but if Thou 
hast not yet pardoned me, oh, do so before I 
receive Thee : wash with Thy blood this soul 
of mine, in which Thou art so soon about to 
dwell. ■ 

Act or Desire. 

AND now, "my soul ! the blessed hour is 
arrived, in which Jesus will come 
and take up His dwelling in my poor heart. 
Behold the King of Heaven, behold thy 
Redeemer and thy God, "Who is even now 
coming ; prepare thyself to receive Him with 
love, invite Him with the ardor of Thy de- 
sire; come, O my Jesus! come to my soul 
which desires Thee. Before Thou givest 
Thyself to me, I desire to give Thee, and I 
now give Thee, my miserable heart; do 



286 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



Thou accept it and come quickly to take 
possession of it. 

Come, O my God! hasten, delay no longer. 
My only and infinite Good, my Treasure, my 
Life, my Paradise, my Love ; my All, my 
wish is to receive Thee with the love with 
•which the most holy and loving souls have 
received Thee; with that with which the 
Most Blessed Virgin Mary received Thee ; 
with their Communions, I receive this one of 
mine. 

Most Holy Virgin and my Mother Mary, 
behold, I already approach to receive Thy 
Son ! Would that I had the heart and love 
with w T hich thou didst communicate ! Give 
me this morning thy Jesus, as thou didst 
give Him to the shepherds and to the kings. 
I intend to receive Him from thy most pure 
hands. . Tell Him that I am thy servant 
and thy client, for He will then look upon 
me with a more loving eye, and now that 
He is coming, will press me more closely to 
Himself. 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



287 



Prayer before Communion. 

From St. Thomas Aquinas. 

ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God ! be- 
hold, I approach the Sacrament of 
Thy only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. I approach, as one sick, to the physi- 
cian of life; as one unclean, to the fountain 
of mercy ; as one blind, to the light of ever- 
lasting brightness ; as one poor and needy, to 
the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, 
I implore the abundance of Thy measureless 
bounty, as far as thou may est vouchsafe to 
heal my infirmity, to cleanse my filth, to 
enlighten my blindness, to clothe my naked- 
ness, that I may receive the bread of Angels, 
the King of kings, the Lord of lords, with 
so much reverence and humility, so much 
.contrition and devotion, so much purity and 
faith, such a purpose and intention, as is 
expedient for my soul's salvation. Give 
me, I beseech Thee, not the Sacrament only 
of our Lord's body and blood, but also the 



288 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



substance and efficacy of the Sacrament. O 
most gracious God, help me so to receive the 
body of Thy only begotten Son, our Lord 
Jesus Christ, which He drew from the Vir- 
gin Mary, that I may merit to be incorpo- 
rated with His mystical body and to be 
numbered among its members. O most 
loving Father, grant that I may at length 
perpetually contemplate with face revealed, 
Thy beloved Son, whom I now purpose to 
receive, veiled on the way, who liveth and 
reigneth with Thee forever and ever. 

Amen. 

After Communion. 

THERE is no prayer more agreeable to God and 
more useful to the soul, says St. Alphonsus 
Liguori, than that made during thanksgiving after 
Communion. It is not a good practice to begin to 
read immediately ; it is better to spend a short time, 
at least, in entertaining holy affections, in speaking 
interiorly with Jesus Christ, Who is within us, and 
"Who, in order to invite us to this sweet enter- 
tainment seems to repeat what He formerly said to 
His disciples: ''Me you have not always." (Matt. 
xxvi.) 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



289 



During this communion with Jesus, it is not neces- 
sary to multiply our acts and affections ; it suffices if 
we repeat those to which we feel particularly drawn. 
The acts thus made after Communion have a far 
greater merit before God than those made at any 
other time, because the soul is then more united to 
Jesus Christ, and, therefore, better disposed to pray 
in a holy manner. 

Our Saviour on His part seems more than ever 
ready to bestow His graces upon us. St Teresa says 
that Jesus Christ, having entered our soul in the holy 
Communion, remains in it, as on a throne of grace, 
saying.: " What wilt thou that I should do to thee ? ; ' 
(Mark x, 51.) "I am come expressly to fill thee 
with My graces; ask what thou wishest, and thou 
shalt obtain it." 

Let us profit by so precious an invitation, lay 
before Him our miseries and our wants, beg of Him 
to abide with us, to be our strength, our wisdom, our 
guide in the fulfilment of our* daily duties, that He 
may accomplish in and through us His own adorable 
designs. Let us ask His grace for those who are to 
lead us to Him, for our Community, our parents and 
relations, for the suffering poor, and all under our 
care. 

Oh ! what treasures of grace may we not receive 
if we are careful thus to commune with Jesus, as 
long as possible! For this purpose, we may some- 
times repeat the following acts slowly and with de- 
votion : 

19 



290 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 

Acts after Communion. 

From St. Alphonsus Liguori. 

Act of Faith. 

BEHOLD, my God is even now come to 
visit me; my Saviour, to dwell in my 
soul. My Jesus is even now within me. He 
is come to make Himself mine, and at the 
same time to make me His. So that Jesus 
is mine, and I belong to Jesus. Jesus is all 
mine and I am all His ! 

O infinite Goodness! O infinite Mercy! O 
infinite Love ! that a God should co>me to 
unite Himself to me, and to make Himself 
all mine! My soul, now that thou art so 
closely united to Jesus, now that thou art 
thus one with Him, what doest thou? Hast 
thou nothing to say to Him ; dost thou not 
converse with thy God, Who is with thee? 
Ah, yes, renew thy faith; remember that 
the Angels now surround thee, adoring their 
God, Who is within thy breast; do thou 
also adore thy God within thyself. Enter 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



291 



into thyself and banish thence every other 
thought. Unite all thy affections together, 
and, clinging closely to thy God, say : 

An Act of Welcome. 

AH! my Jesus, my Love, my infinite 
Good, my All, be ever welcome in 
the poor dwelling of my soul ! Ah, my 
Lord, where art Thou ? to what a place art 
Thou come? Thou hast entered my heart 
which is far worse than the stable in which 
Thou wast born ; it is full of earthly affec- 
tions, of self-love and of inordinate desires. 
And how couldst Thou come to dwell there? 
I would address Thee with St. Peter: ".De- 
part from me, for I am a sinful man/' (St 
Luke, v, 8.) Yes, depart from me, O Lord ! 
for I am indeed unworthy to receive a God 
of infinite goodness; go and find repose in 
those pure souls who serve Thee with so 
much love. But no, my Redeemer; what 
do I say ? Leave me not, for if Thou de- 
partest, I am lost. I embrace Thee, my 



292 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



life; I cling to Thee. Mad indeed have I 
been in having separated myself from Thee 
for the love of creatures; in my ingratitude, 
I drove Thee from me. But now, I will 
never more separate myself from Thee, my 
treasure; I desire to live and die united to 
Thee. Most Blessed Virgin Mary, ye Sera- 
phim and all ye beatified souls, all ye who 
love God with pure love lend me your affec- 
tions, that I may worthily attend on my 
beloved Lord. 

Act or Thanksgiving. 

MY God and my Lord! I. thank Thee 
for the grace which Thou hast this 
morning bestowed upon me, of coming to 
dwell in my soul ; but I would wish to 
thank Thee in a manner worthy of Thee 
and of the great favor which Thou hast done 
me. But what do I say? how can such a 
miserable creature as I am ever worthily 
thank Thee? 

Father Segneri says, that the feeling most becom- 
ing a soul who communicates, is that of wondering 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



293 



astonishment at the thought; repeating, "A God is 
united to me ; a God is mine ! 77 David said : "What 
shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has 
rendered to me.' 7 {Ps. cxv, 12.) 

But I — what return shall I make to Thee, 
my Jesus, Who, after having given me so 
many of Thy good things, hast this morn- 
ing, moreover, given me Thyself? My soul, 
bless then, and thank thy God as best thou 
canst. And thou, my Mother Mary, my 
holy advocates, my guardian angel, and all 
ye souls who love God, "come and hear, all 
ye that fear God, and I will tell you what 
great things he hath done for my soul." 
(Ps. Ixv, 16.) Come and bless and thank 
my God for me, admiring and praising the 
truly great graces which He has granted me. 



Act of Oblation. 

" My Beloved to me, and I to Him." {Cant ii, 1G.) 

SHOULD a king go to visit a poor shep- 
herd in his hut, what can the shepherd 
offer him other than his whole hut, such as 



294 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



it is? Since, then, O Jesus, my divine 
King, thou hast come to visit the poor house 
of ray soul, I offer and give Thee this house 
and my entire self, together with my liberty 
and will: "My Beloved to me, and I to 
Him." Thou hast given Thyself to me, I 
give myself all to Thee. My Jesus, from 
this day forward, I will be no longer mine; 
I will be Thine, and all Thine. May my 
senses be Thine, that they may only serve 
me to please Thee. And what greater pleas- 
ure can be found, says St. Peter of Alcan- 
tara, than that of pleasing Thee, most amia- 
ble, most loving, most gracious God? I, at 
the same time, give Thee all the powers of 
my soul, and I will that they shall be all 
Thine; my memory I will only use to recall 
to mind Thy benefits and Thy love; my 
understanding, I will only use to think of 
Thee Who always thinkest of my good ; my 
will, I will only use to love Thee, my God, 
my All, and to will only that which Thou 
wiliest. My most sweet Lord, I offer, then, 
and consecrate to Thee this morning, all that 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 295 



I am and have, — my senses, my thoughts, 
my affections, my desires, my pleasures, my 
inclinations, my liberty, in a word, I place 
my whole body and soul in Thy hands. 

Accept, O Infinite Majesty ! the sacrifice 
of the hitherto most ungrateful sinner Thou 
hast ever had on earth ; but who now offers 
and gives himself all to Thee. Do with 
me and dispose of me, O Lord, as Thou 
pleasest. 

Come, O consuming Fire! O divine Love ! 
and consume in me #11 w T hich is mine, and 
which is displeasing in Thy most pure eyes, 
so that, from henceforward, I may be all 
Thine and may live only to execute, not 
Thy commands and counsels alone, but all 
Thy holy desires and good pleasure also. 

Amen. 

O most holy Mary, do thou present this 
offering of mine to the Most Blessed Trinity, 
with thine own hands ; and do thou obtain 
their acceptance of it, that they may grant 
me the grace to be faithful unto death. 

A men, amen, amen. 



296 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



Act of Petition. 

OMY soul, what art thou doing? The 
present is no time to be lost : it is a 
precious time, in which thou canst receive all 
the graces which thou askest. Seest thou 
not the Eternal Father Who is lovingly 
beholding thee? for within thee He sees His 
beloved Son, the dearest object of His love. 
Drive, then, far from thee all other thoughts ; 
rekindle thy faith, enlarge thy heart, and 
ask for whatever thou wiliest. 

Hearest thou not Jesus Himself who thus 
addresses thee : " What wilt thou that I 
should do to thee?" (St. Mark, x, 51.) 
O soul, tell me, what dost thou desire of 
Me? I am come for the express purpose of 
enriching and gratifying thee; ask with con- 
fidence, and thou wilt receive all. 

Ah, my most sweet Saviour, since Thou 
hast come into my heart in order to grant 
me graces, and desirest that I should ask 
Thee for them, I ask Thee not for the goods 
of the earth — riches, honors or pleasures, — 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 29T 



but grant me, I beseech Thee, intense sorrow 
for the displeasures I have caused Thee ; im- 
part to me so clear a light, that I may know 
the vanity of this world, and how deserving 
Thou art of love. Change this heart of mine, 
detach it from all earthly affections, give me 
a heart conformable in all things to Thy 
holy will, that it may seek only for that 
which is more pleasing to Thee, and have no 
other desire than Thy holy love. " Create 
a clean heart in me, O God." (Ps. i, 12.) 

I deserve not this; but Thou, my Jesus, 
deservest it, since Thou art come to dwell in 
my soul : I ask it of Thee through Thy 
merits, and those of Thy most holy Mother, 
and by the love which Thou bearest to Thy 
Eternal Father. 

Here pause, to ask Jesus for some other particular 
grace for yourself and for your neighbor. Do not 
forget poor sinners and the souls in Purgatory. 

Eternal Father! Jesus Christ Himself, 
Thy Son has said: "Amen, amen, I say to 
you, if you ask the Father anything in my 
name, He will give it to you." For the 
love, then, of this Son, Whom I now hold 



298 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



within my breast, do Thou graciously hear 
me and grant ray petition. 

My most sweet loves, Jesus and Mary, 
may I suffer for you, may I die for you • 
may I be all yours and in nothing my own ! 
May the Most Blessed Sacrament ever be 
thanked and praised ! Blessed be the Holy 
and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed 
Virgin Mary ! 

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas. 

I THANK Thee, Omnipotent Father and 
Eternal God ! for having deigned to feed 
me, Thy sinful and unworthy servant, with 
the most precious body and blood of Thy 
only begotten Son. I beseech Thee, that 
this Communion add not to the number of 
my sins, and draw not down Thy chastise- 
ments upon me ; let it rather be an efficacious 
means of obtaining pardon ; may it enable 
me to eradicate all my vicious inclinations 
and to acquire perfect charity. Above all, 
may it unite me to Thee, the true and onlv 
God, that I may happily and faithfully finish 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



299 



my days in Thy grace. And then, O good 
Father, be pleased to introduce* me in those* 
happy abodes in Paradise, where Thou, with 
Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art the true 
light and fulness of consolation, the eternal 
joy and perfect happiness of the elect. 

Prayer of St. Ignatius. 

Indulgence of three hundred days each time. In- 
dulgence of seven years and seven quarantines, when 
said after Communion. Plenary indulgence once a 
month, if said daily, on the ordinary conditions. 

SOUL of Christ, be my sanctification ; 
Body of Christ, be my salvation ; 
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins ; 
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains ; 
Passion of Christ, my comfort be ; 
O good Jesus, listen to me : 
In Thy wounds I fain would hide, 
Ne'er to be parted from Thy side ; 
Guard me, should the foe assail me ; 
Call me, when my life shall fail me; 
Bid me come to Thee above, 
"With Thy saints to sing Thy love, 

World without end. Amen. 



300 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



Important Advice. 

AFTER thanksgiving, retire in silence, and take 
care not to lose the fruit of your Communion 
by dissipation. 

Preserve, with the greatest care, the precious treas- 
ure which you possess. 

Continue, as much as you can, to commune from 
time to time with Jesus Christ in the course of your 
ordinary occupations. 

Show by your conduct the salutary effects of the 
ineffable grace which you have received. 

Act in such a manner as to make each Communion 
a preparation for the following one. 

In fine, make all your Communions, as you would 
wish to have made them at the hour of death ; they 
will be for you the pledge of immortal life. 

Aspirations. 

I HAVE found the Heart of my King, my 
brother, my kind friend Jesus. What 
more can I desire in heaven or on earth ? 

Lord, who am I that Thou shouldst love 
me so much and desire to be loved by me? 

Oh! that I might be wholly consumed for 
Thee as Thou wast wholly consumed for me! 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 301 



Take possession of me, O my Jesus! and 
let me never depart from Thee. 

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make 
my heart like unto Thine ! 

Give me the grace nevermore wilfully to 
offend Thee, O my God ! 

O God! worthy of infinite love, may I 
this day be entirely converted to Thee. 

Thy will, O Lord ! wholly, simply and 
nothing else. 

Give me, O my Jesus! such an increase of 
sanctifying grace, that I may waste none of 
the gifts of God. 

O Mary ! my holy Mother, obtain for me 
the grace of serving thy dear Son with fidelity 
until death. Teach me to love Him and to 
draw others to know and love Him. 

Prayer to Ask or Jesus His Blessing. 

BLESS me, O my Jesus ! bless my soul, 
my body, my senses and my faculties. 
Bless especially my tongue, that it may never 
speak, but for Thy glory. Bless my eyes, 



4 

302 DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



that they may look at nothing that might 
tempt me to displease Thee. Bless all the 
members of my body, that they may serve 
and never offend Thee. Bless my memory, 
that it may always remember Thy love and 
the favors Thou hast granted me. Bless my 
understanding, that I may know Thy good- 
ness and the obligation I have of loving 
Thee; and that it may see all that I must 
avoid and all that I must do to conform 
myself to Thy holy will. Above all, bless 
my will, that it may love no other but Thee, 
the infinite Good; that it may seek for noth- 
ing but Thy pleasure, and delight in nothing 
but what conduces to Thy glory. Amen. 



Prayer before a Crucifix. 

Plenary indulgence is granted to those who say the' 
following prayer before a crucifix, praying for the 
wants of the Church after Communion. 

LOOK down upon me, good and gentle 
Jesus ! while before Thy face I hum- 
bly kneel, and with burning soul pray and 





Baltimore. Murphv" 3c Co 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



303 



beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart, lively 
sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true 
contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of 
amendment ; the while I contemplate with 
great love and tender pity Thy Five Wounds, 
pondering over them within me, whilst I call 
to mind the words which David Thy prophet 
said of Thee, my Jesus : " They pierced my 
hands and my feet ; they numbered all my 
bones/' (Ps. xxi, 17, 18.) 

Hymn of Thanksgiving to Jesus Christ 
in the Blessed Sacrament. 

SWEET Jesus, hid for love of me, 
How shall I render thanks to Thee? 
Ah ! would that my poor love could be 
The half of that Thou'st shown for me ! 

What wondrous act is this of Thine, 
To make Thyself so wholly mine? 
My food, great God, Thou deigmst to be, 
To show how well Thou lovest me ! 

Lord Jesus, come, I beg of Thee, 
And with Thy grace, pray strengthen me, 
For Thee alone, my heart doth beat — 
Ah ! make of it Thy mercy-seat. 



304 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



E'en as the thirsty stag doth fly 
To running brook, so, Lord, do I 
"With longing heart pant after Thee — 
Then, come, sweet Jesus, come to me ! 

Ah ! hasten, Lord, make no delay ! 
Come, wed my heart this very day, 
That thus united here below, 
I may not fear eternal woe. 

With steadfast faith, I cling to Thee, 
And press Thee, Lord, most tenderly 
Unto my weak and sinful heart, 
Well pleased to claim Thee as my part. 

Now Thou art mine, and I am Thine ! 
Ah ! mortal words can ne'er define 
My happiness, thus close to be 
United dearest Lord to Thee. 

By day and night, I'll sing Thy praise, 
My voice in grateful anthems raise, 
To Thee, dear Shepherd of my soul, 
Nor shrink beneath Thy meek control. 

This parting life suniceth not 
To thank Thee for my happy lot, 
So favored by Thy love to be — 
Ah ! Lord, 'twill take eternity. 



DEVOTIONS FOR COMMUNION. 



305 



ITad I a thousand lives to lay 
In sacrifice, each dawning day, 
It would, most holy, gracious Lord, 
Be for Thy love a poor reward, 

I cannot love Thee as I should, 
Nor even as my poor heart would ; 
For pardon then, I humbly crave, 
And beg Thee still my soul to save. 

Lord Jesus Christ, for Thee I live, 
Lord Jesus Christ, I beg Thee give 
Me grace to die thro' love of Thee, 
And be Thine own eternally I 




20 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD. 



A Devout Method of visiting the Blessed 
Sacrament. 

^ In the name of the Father, &c. 

Blessed be the most holy and undivided 
Trinity now and forevermore. Amen. 

Come, O Holy Ghost, &c. 

Prevent, O Lord ! we beseech Thee, our 
actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry 
them on by Thy gracious assistance, that 
every prayer and work of ours may begin 
always from Thee and by Thee be happily 
ended, to the honor and glory of Thy holy 
name. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Act of Contrition. 

I AM sorry, O my God ! I am sorry from 
the bottom of my heart, for all my sins, 
solely for the love of Thee. It grieves me, 
oh ! it grieves me, that I have so frequently 

30G 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD, &C. 



307 



offended Thee. Alas ! why have I outraged 
Thy most amiable goodness, Thy most ado- 
rable Majesty ! I am sorry for all my sins, 
and my repentance is based on a most sincere 
love of Thee Who art infinitely worthy of 
being loved above all things. I desire to 
love and glorify Thee, O my God ! forever 
and ever. I detest and abhor all my sins, 
and firmly purpose never more to wilfully 
offend Thee. 



Acts of Faith, Hope, Adoration, &c. 

MY Saviour ! Jesus Christ ! I firmly be- 
lieve that Thou art truly and really 
present in the Blessed Sacrament, which con- 
tains Thy Body and Blood, Thy Soul and 
Divinity. I acknowledge these truths, I 
believe these wonders; I adore Thy power 
which has wrought them; I praise Thy in- 
finite goodness which has prepared them for 
me, and with holy David, I say from the 
depth of my heart: " J will praise Thee, my 
God, with my whole heart, and I will recount 



308 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



all Thy admirable works; I will rejoice in 
Thee and bless Thy holy Name." To this 
faith, I submit my understanding. In it I 
desire to live and die. In this faith I now 
presume to appear before Thee; with pro- 
found reverence and humility, I desire to 
pour forth my soul in acts of love, praise, 
thanksgiving and adoration to Thee, my 
Saviour, my God and my All. 

Hail, sacred mystery ! Sacrament of hope ! 
I hope in Thee. O divine nourishment of 
my soul ! refresh, confirm and strengthen 
me. Hail ! Sacrament of love ! I love 
Thee, my chief good upon earth. That I 
may never cease to love Thee, most merciful 
Saviour! Thou hast given me Thyself, the 
ever flowing fountain of love. O Bread of 
Angels ! may I daily sigh for Thee, and 
never seek the empty delights of earth. O 
Lord! inflame my soul with a wholesome 
fear, that I may reverence Thee as my Fa- 
ther ; fear Thee as my Judge ; — that I may 
not offend Thee as my Father, nor provoke 
Thee as my Judge. 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 309 



Hail ! divine Word made flesh ! vouchsafe 
to dwell in me, and grant that, purifying and 
cleansing my soul by Thy grace, Thou may- 
est find in me a worthy habitation. Hail ! 
great price of our Redemption ! suffer not, I 
beseech Thee, that what Thou hast purchased 
by so much love and so many sufferings, be 
ineffectual to me. Hail ! sacred Viaticum of 
all who die in the Lord ! grant that I may 
always live to Thee, and that I may not die 
without Thee. This I beg by the same love 
of my salvation, w T hich detains Thee here 
in the silent loneliness of the tabernacle. 
Hail ! pledge of future glory ! Oh ! that I 
may so receive this sure and sacred pledge 
here as not to be excluded from Thy glory 
hereafter ! 

Before Thee, O Jesus! truly present in 
! this most holy Sacrament, I prostrate myself 
1 in union with all the Angels and Arch- 
j angels, with the Thrones and Powers, with 
the Cherubim and Seraphim, and w T ith all 
the heavenly host, saying : " Holy, holy, holy 
Lord God of Sabaoth ! Praise, honor and 



i 



310 



TOAYERS TO OUR LORD 



glory to the Lamb Who was slain, and Who 
liveth forever and ever I " 

O supreme Deity! O divine Humanity! 
O sacred Body, victim of salvation for my 
soul. I prostrate myself before Thee; I 
most humbly adore Thee. Buried in the 
abyss of my own nothingness, I venerate 
Thy infinite Majesty. I rejoice that Thou 
art devoutly adored and praised in heaven 
and upon earth, by the saints and all just 
men. Would that by the sacrifice of my 
whole life, I could atone for the dishonor 
and injuries offered Thee by impious and 
wicked men ! 

O my Jesus ! what honor dost Thou con- 
fer upon us, poor worms of the earth ! How 
great a condescension to give us Thy sacred 
Body to be our food ! What thanks and 
praises can I render to Thee, O sacred High- 
Priest, mediating for me! O life-giving 
Victim, Who hast redeemed me ! O Deity, 
in Whom I desire to rest ! O sacred Hu- 
manity, from Whom I expect salvation ! I 
would now render to Thee all those praises, 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



311 



which Thy Virgin Mother, all the powers of 
heaven, and all the saints and just, have ever 
given, do give, or shall give to Thee, through 
all eternity. O ! that my heart and voice 
may be joined to theirs, that by them and 
with them, I may in some measure give 
Thee due thanks and praise for this, Thy 
exceeding liberality and bounty to me. 

O Jesus, my God ! I offer to Thee all that 
I am and have : my heart, my body and my 
soul ; my memory, will, and understanding, 
my thoughts, my words, and my actions, my 
whole interior and exterior — all that I enjoy 
and possess by Thy bounty. I offer to Thee 
the firm purpose, which I now make, never 
wilfully to offend Thee. I offer to Thee my 
heart, that it may love Thee; my tongue, 
that it may praise Thee; my hands, that 
they may serve Thee; my feet, that they 
may walk after Thee ; and all the faculties 
of my soul to honor Thee in this holy Sacra- 
ment. Receive dear Jesus, this offering I 
now make. Transform and change me into 
Thee, and may nothing be able ever to sepa- 
rate me from Thee. 



312 PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 

O my God and my Saviour ! O dear 
Redeemer, here truly present! have mercy 
on me a poor needy beggar, knocking at the 
gate of Thy mercy-seat. Behold me full of 
sins and imperfections, and do Thou enrich 
me. I am a prey to miseries and diseases ; 
do Thou heal me, pardon my sins, and for- 
give my debts. Grant me an increase of 
grace and virtue. Enlighten my under- 
standing with true faith, and inflame my 
will with the love of Thee. May my mem- 
ory be occupied with the remembrance of 
Thy holy presence. Increase in Thy Church 
the number of Thy faithful servants. Stir 
up and incite the slothful and tepid to zeal 
and fervor in Thy service. Convert and 
pardon all sinners. Englighten all infidels. 
Bring back all heretics and schismatics. 
Comfort the afflicted. Reconcile enemies. 
Have mercy on the souls departed, on me, 
and on all who have recommended them- 
selves to my prayers. 

O Bread of Life ! feed me. O Fbod of 
my Soul ! nourish me. O Consolation of 



IN TIIE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



313 



the Afflicted! comfort me. O Strength of 
the Weak! fortify me. O Health of the 
Sick ! heal me. () Jesus ! be to me a Sa- 
viour. 

Here, striking your breast three times, say de- 
voutly : 

O JESUS, have mercy on me ! 
O good Jesus, hear me ! 
O most sweet Jesus, be propitious to me, a 
sinner ! 

May Thy mercy be upon me, my Lord 
and my God! for I believe and hope in 
Thee. Amen. 

O most loving Jesus ! to Thee do I lift 
up my eyes, my heart and my soul ; with 
the most intimate affection of my heart, I 
adore Thee here, truly present. May all 
the angelic spirits ministering about Thy 
throne salute Thee for me! May all unite 
with me in glorifying Thee ! May the uni- 
versal harmony of all creatures give praise 
to Thy holy Name, our shield, our defence 
for ever and ever. May all flesh rejoice in 



314 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



Thee, and may every living creature glorify 
Thee ; may every human tongue praise and 
extol Thee, bless and glorify Thee forever! 

O life of my heart! O sweet Jesus! look 
upon me with an eye of pity, for I am but 
dust and ashes, a most unworthy creature 
and a most ungrateful sinner. Call to mind, 
I beseech Thee, that most bitter Passion 
which Thou didst suffer for me. O my 
merciful Saviour! O my only Refuge! de- 
part not from me. O my Deliverer! come 
unto my aid. Bury me, dead to this world 
in the wound of Thy love-bleeding heart, 
and shield me from all the attempts of my 
enemies, that neither life nor death, nor any 
creature may separate me from Thee. Oh ! 
mayest Thou eternally live in me, in an 
indissoluble bond of love. Most dear, most 
sweet Jesus ! open to me the abyss of Thy 
mercy • vouchsafe to receive me into the 
number of Thy servants ; and grant that I 
may never forsake Thee nor be ungrateful 
to Thee. Behold my heart ! I present it to 
Thee; accept it, and let it repose in the 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



315 



wound of Thy Sacred Heart. Take it, dear 
Lord ! and there inclose it, that it may not 
depart from Thee. There may it rest, there 
may it live and there may it die in Thy 
love.. May it never sleep in coldness and 
tepidity, but may it honor, adore and praise 
Thee forever. Amen. 

O most amiable Jesus ! my only true and 
unchangeable Good ! how gracious and con- 
descending art Thou ! What excess of divine 
love that Thou shouldst thus give Thyself 
to us in this holv Sacrament ! that Thou 
shouldst be here, truly present, to receive 
our lowest, most humble homage and adora- 
tion ! Ah ! what am I, sinful dust and 
ashes, that I should appear in Thy sacred 
and awful presence? Thou veilest all Thy 
glories under the familiar forms and appear- 
ances of bread and wine, that I may not 
be terrified at Thy grandeur and Majesty, 
but approach Thee with confidence and love. 
Thou takest up Thy residence in our earthly 
tabernacle. Here I may securely entertain 
myself with Thee and the wonders of Thy 



31G 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



love. Here I may lay open to Thee all my 
miseries and my wants, and refresh my poor 
soul in the streams of Thy sweet and incom- 
parable love. 

O Thou, only desire of my heart! O most 
sweet and loving Jesus ! When shall I hap- 
pily rest in Thee? O come unto me, take 
possession of me, that, forgetful of all things 
else, I may embrace Thee, my true and only 
good. O incomprehensible love ! when shall 
I see Thee ! O love ! O fire, always burning 
and never consuming ! Who earnest to bring 
fire upon earth, and desirest nothing more 
but that it be kindled; inflame, burn and 
consume me in the fire of Thy love. 

O my God ! my love ! Thou art all mine 
and I am all Thine. "My beloved to me, and 
I to Him." (Cant, ii.) O my God ! to Thee 
do I lift up my soul ; Thee only do I desire ; 
Thee only do I seek. O most amiable and 
sweet Jesus ! replenish my heart with Thy 
inextinguishable sweetness. Thou art im- 
mense, and, therefore, deservest to be loved 
beyond measure, especially by us whom Thou 



IX THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



317 



dost infinitely love. Grant, O my Jesus ! 
that I may so totally love Thee as neither 
to desire to see, hear, or enjoy anything but 
Thee. May all earthly things be forgotten 
in Thy sacred presence. May I constantly 
adhere to Thee, O Thou sweet spouse of my 
soul ! and suffer me never to be separated 
from Thee in time or eternity. O Jesus! 
my love, my God and my all ! Amen, amen. 

Act of Spiritual Communion. 

OMY Jesus! I believe that Thou art here 
present in the most holy Eucharist, I 
love Thee above all things, and I desire to 
receive Thee. Since I may not now receive 
Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually, 
I beseech Thee, into my heart. I unite my- 
self entirely to Thee, as though Thou hadst 
actually come. Suffer me not to be ever 
separated from Thee. 

Another Form. 

O JESUS ! present on this altar, I adore 
Thee, T love Thee, I desire Thee; 



318 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



come into my heart ; I unite myself to Thee, 
do not separate Thyself from me. 

I will hold this divine Saviour and will 
never let Him go; I will die with Him, and 
burn with the flames of His love; the same 
fire shall consume this divine Creator and 
His miserable creature. My Jesus, is all 
mine, and I am all His; I will live and die 
on His breast; neither life nor death shall 
ever separate me from Him. 

Act of Reparation. 

Indulgence of two hundred days. 

JESUS, my God, my Saviour ! with that 
lowly homage with which the Faith 
itself inspires me, I worship Thee, very God 
and very Man ; with my whole heart, I love 
Thee, enclosed in the most awful Sacrament 
of the Altar, in reparation for all the acts of 
irreverence, profanation and sacrilege, which 
I may ever have been so unhappy as to have 
committed, as well as for all such like acts 
that ever have been done, or (which God 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 319 



may avert) ever may be done in ages yet to 
come. I adore Thee, my God, not indeed 
according to the measure of Thy merits, nor 
according to the greatness of my debt to 
Thee, but according to the little strength I 
have; and fain would I adore Thee with all 
the perfection of every reasonable creature. 
Meantime, I purpose now and ever to adore 
Thee, not only for those Catholics who adore 
Thee not and love Thee not, but also in the 
stead of, and for the conversion of, all heretics, 
schismatics, impious atheists, blasphemers, 
sorcerers, Turks, Jews, and idolaters. Jesus, 
my God, mayest Thou be ever known, adored, 
loved, and praised every moment, every day, 
in the most heavenly Sacrament. Amen. 



Ejaculations. 

Indulgence of one hundred days. 

I ADORE Thee every moment, O living 
Bread of Heaven, great Sacrament ! 
Jesus, Heart of Mary, I pray Thee send 
Thy blessing on my soul ! 



320 PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 

Holiest Jesus ! loving Saviour ! I give 
Thee all my heart. 

May all know, adore, and praise every 
moment, always, the most holy and most 
divine Sacrament! 

Prayer to the Most Holy Sacrament, and 
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Indulgence of one hundred days, once a day. 

SEE where Thy boundless love has reached, 
my loving Jesus ! Thou, of Thy flesh 
and precious blood hast made ready for me 
a banquet whereby to wholly give me Thy- 
self. Who drove Thee to this excess of love 
for me? Thy Heart, Thy loving Heart. 
O adorable Heart of Jesus! burning furnace 
of Divine Love ! Within Thy sacred wound, 
take Thou my soul, that in that school of 
charity, I may learn to love that God Who 
has given me such wondrous proofs of His 
great love. Amen. 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 321 



Ejaculation. 

Indulgence of one hundred days, once a day. Pie 
nary Indulgence once a month, on the usual condi 
tions. 




SACRAMENT most holy! O Sacra- 
ment divine ! 



All praise and thanksgiving be every moment 
thine ! 

Prayer to the Blessed Sacrament. 

Indulgence of one hundred days on any day. Ple- 
nary Indulgence on the first Thursday of the month, 
if said on that day, after Communion, and after ful- 
filling the ordinary conditions. 

LOOK down, O Lord ! from Thy sanc- 
tuary and from Heaven, Thy dwelling 
place, and behold this holy Victim, which 
Thy Holy Child, Jesus, our Lord and great 
High Priest offers up to Thee for the sins of 
his brethren ; and let not Thy wrath be 
kindled upon us for the multitude of our 
transgressions. Behold, the voice of the 
blood of Jesus, our brother, calls to Thee 
21 



322 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



from the cross. Give ear, O Lord ! Be 
appeased, O Lord! Hearken and do; and 
tarry not, for Thine own sake, O my God ! 
because Thy name is called upon this city 
and upon Thy people; but deal with us 
according to Thy great mercy. Amen. 

My sweetest Jesus, be not my J udge, but 
my Saviour. (Fifty days* Indulgence each 
time. Plenary Indulgence once a year.) 

My Jesus, mercy! (One hundred days' 
Indulgence each time.) 

Jesus Christ be praised forever more ! 
(Same Indulgence.) 

Prayer or St. Augustine. 

OMY God ! Light of souls, that behold 
Thee ! Life of hearts that love Thee, 
and strength of minds that seek Thee, infuse 
into me the fulness of Thy love. Through 
the earnestness of its desires, my heart opens 
to receive Thee, and implores Thee to enter, 
in order to quench the thirst which consumes 
it, and to inebriate it with the wine of Thy 
sweet delights. Amen. 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



323 



Prayer of Oblation and Divine Love. 

By St. Ignatius. 

TAKE and receive, O Lord ! my entire 
liberty. Accept my whole memory, 
my will and understanding. Whatsoever I 
have or possess, Thou hast given to me ; I 
restore it all to Thee, and deliver it up to 
be governed entirely according to Thy will. 
Vouchsafe to give me Thy love and grace, 
and I am rich enough ; I ask nothing more. 

An Act of Divine Love. 

OMY God, and rny All ! I most ardently 
desire, by every breath I draw, by 
every thought, word, and action, by every 
movement of body and soul, to tell Thee, a 
thousand and a thousand times, that I love 
Thee more than my life, or anything in the 
world, and that I consecrate myself to Thee, 
renewing my baptismal and religious vows, 
together with the promises and resolutions 
of my past life. I offer Thee also all the 



324 PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 

homage, love, joy, praise, thanks, and adora- 
tion of the Church militant, triumphant, and 
suffering ; all that it has offered or will offer 
Thee, till the end of time; all the love, com- 
placency and delights, Thou possessest; in 
Thy divine essence, one God, in three Per- 
sons; all the homage my beloved Jesus 
renders Thee in the adorable Sacrament of 
the Altar ; and all the Masses that are now 
being celebrated, that I may be a victim, 
immolated with each, to Thy honor and 
glory, without any other will or desire but 
that of pleasing Thee, loving, living for 
Thee, and dying for Thee. I am Thine, 
O my God ! make me so entirely and eter- 
nally. Amen. 

An Act of Consecration to tue Sacred 
Hearts of Jesus and Mary. 

O ADORABLE Heart of Jesus ! myste- 
rious sanctuary, where the Heavenly 
Father and the Spirit of Love delight to 
rest! Most amiable and most generous of 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



325 



all hearts ! Thou, Who hast been wounded 
by love for Thy unworthy creatures, receive 
at this moment, and hide in Thy sacred 
wounds, Thy child, who consecrates herself 
to Thee forever. 

Alas! if heretofore, perfidious and un- 
grateful, I have pierced and torn Thy Heart 
by my sins; if, until now, I have lived 
without loving Thee as much as Thou de- 
servest, pardon, O tenderest of Fathers ! 
pardon Thy child who throws herself at 
Thy feet, penetrated with grief and confu- 
sion. She w T ill efface her ingratitude with 
tears ; she will console, by her fervor, Thy 
love which she has so long outraged, and so 
long exiled from her heart. O divine Love, 
descend from heaven ! Heart of Jesus, fur- 
nace of love, teach me to love Thee ; burn, 
consume all those attachments, which with- 
draw me from Thee. 

And thou, O Mary! whose Immaculate 
Heart is the perfect image of that of our 
Saviour; thou, to whom it was granted to 
live and to die of love; thou who hast 



326 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



drawn from the Heart of Jesus thy love for 
me ; thou who didst become my Mother on 
Calvary, at the feet of Jesus crucified ; O 
Mother of grief and love ! O my Mother ! 
wilt thou refuse to present me this day to 
thy divine Son, thy well-beloved child, as 
thou didst formerly present Him at the altar 
of sacrifice? I throw myself into thy arms; 
I give thee my whole heart, that thou may- 
est give it to Jesus. 

O Jesus ! O Mary ! at the foot of this altar, 
where the Seraphim tremble and adore, I 
consecrate myself without reserve, now and 
forever, to your Sacred Hearts, that I may 
henceforth form one victim of love with you. 
Yes, I resolve to live only that I may love 
you and cause you to be loved, and I hope 
to die a thousand times rather than displease 
you. 

Faithfully imitating your most devoted 
servants, I wish ever to show myself the 
generous child of the most generous of sa- 
viours and the most generous of brothers. 
I will surpass in love even the Angels of 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 327 

heaven if it be possible. And since, O my 
Jesus ! in Thy merciful love, Thou hast 
deigned to call me to live and labor within 
the shadow of Thy sanctuary, and to be 
numbered among Thy spouses, grant that I 
may daily strive to serve Thee with more 
fidelitv and love, and become less unworthy 
of my vocation. Bless the work in which I 
am engaged that by it, Thou mayest be glori- 
fied. O that, a true Sister of Charity, at the 
price of my labor and my blood, I could 
enkindle in all hearts that fire which Thou 
hast brought upon earth, or at least compen- 
sate, by my love, for the small number of 
those who love Thee ! Grant, in fine, that 
I may peacefully expire in Thy arms and 
consummate the union of my heart with 
Thine in a blissful eternity. Amen. 

Prayer at the End of the Visit to the 
Blessed Sacrament. 

BEFORE retiring, I beg Thy pardon, 
O my God ! for my distractions, my 
tepidity, and for all the faults which I have 



328 



PRAYERS TO OUR LORD 



committed in Thy divine presence, during 
this visit. I leave Thee my heart ; till it 
with grace and love; and before I retire 
from Thee, my God, give me Thy divine 
blessing. I ask it for this moment and for 
all my life, that I may live henceforth for 
Thee alone. 

Beads of the Precious Blood. 

On the Cross. Holy and strong God ! 
holy and immortal God ! save Thy servants 
whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy precious 
blood. 

On the Large Beads. Forgive, O Jesus ! 
In the midst of dangers, cover us with Thy 
precious blood. Eternal Father ! have mercy 
on us, through the blood of Jesus, we beseech 
Thee, have mercy on us. 

On the Small Beads. Eternal Father ! I 
offer Thee the precious blood of Jesus Christ, 
in expiation for my sins, and for the wants 
of Thy holy Church. 

These may be said on the usual rosary. For the 
last ejaculation, one hundred days' Indulgence each 
time. 



IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 329 



Offering of the Precious Blood. 

One hundred days' Indulgence, each, time ; Plenary 
Indulgence once a month, on the usual conditions. 

ETERNAL Father! we offer Thee the 
most precious blood of Jesus, shed for 
us with such great love and bitter pain from 
His right hand ; and through its merits and 
its might, we entreat Thy divine Majesty to 
grant us Thy holy benediction, that by its 
power we may be defended from all our 
enemies and freed from every ill ; whilst we 
say, "Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris et 
Filii et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super nos, 
et maneat semper." Amen. 

Pater, Ave, and Gloria. 

Oblation of the Merits of Christ for 
our Sins. 

By St. Gertrude. 

OMOST compassionate Jesus ! since by 
reason of Thine unsearchable wisdom, 
Thou knowest the extent of human frailty 



330 PRAYERS TO OUR LORD, &C. 

more clearly and fully than I or any one 
can know it, I implore Thee to have mani- 
fold compassion on my manifold frailty, and 
to vouchsafe to supply all my defects and 
shortcomings. Offer to Thy most gracious 
Father, O merciful Jesus ! the most becom- 
ing silence of Thy holy lips, in expiation of 
all the sins I have committed, and to supply 
for all the good I have omitted, by vain and 
frivolous conversation. Offer, O good Jesus ! 
the modesty of Thy most holy ears, for all 
the sins I have committed by hearing. Offer 
also the reserve of Thy eyes, for all the stains 
which I have contracted by wandering and 
forbidden looks. Offer the caution and de- 
liberation of Thy hands and feet, for all the 
sins which I have committed in my daily 
actions or in my daily walk. Lastly, O 
most loving Jesus! offer to His glorious 
Majesty Thy divine Heart, for all the sins 
which I have committed by thought, word 
or desire. Amen. 



Short Prayers to the Most Blessed Sacrament, 
during its Exposition or Benediction. 



Act of Faith. 

OMY Jesus ! I most firmly believe that 
Thou art present beneath the sacra- 
mental species of this most holy Host, which 
by us is seen ; that there Thou art living, 
true and present, as Thou art in heaven. I 
behold Thee not, O my adorable Saviour ! 
with my bodily eyes, but with the sight of 
faith, and I am more sure of the truth of 
Thy real presence, thus seeing Thee, than if 
I beheld Thee with the eyes of my body. O 
Lord ! accept and increase my faith. 

Act of Adoration. 

PROSTRATE in profound humility be- 
fore Thee, O my God ! I adore Thee 
my Creator, my Judge, hidden under the 
august veil of the sacramental species, and 
together with the Angels who surround Thy 

331 



332 PRAYERS FOR BENEDICTION. 



holy altar, I bless Thee. O my sweet 
Spouse ! my dear Lord Jesus ! draw to 
Thyself all the power of my soul ; inflame 
and animate my heart with Thy most pure 
and ardent love. I ask of Thee, Lord, no 
earthly treasure, no worldly goods or glory. 
I beg only the riches of Thy pure love, that 
in all things I may seek Thee alone, prize 
Thee alone, be contented with Thee alone, 
Who art my all. O love of my God ! the 
life of my soul, the centre of my affections ; 
to Thee I consecrate all my actions, to Thee 
I dedicate unreservedly all my desires, all 
my labors, all I am and all I have; in 
fine, my whole being. May I not live one 
moment, but to love Thee, my God ; may I 
not even breathe, but to glorify Thee ; O 
that I could break forth without intermis- 
sion into seraphic acts of love! O that I 
could continue to repeat them each moment 
of my life! O my divine Spouse! may I 
die in the highest and most perfect exercise 
of divine love ! That I may love and glorify 
Thee for a blessed eternity ! Amen. 



PRAYERS TOR BENEDICTION, 



333 



Act of Contrition. 



BUT alas ! my Jesus, who am I, who 
thus dare to present myself before 
Thee? Am I not that poor worm of the 
earth, who a thousand times have so ungrate- 
fully offended Thee? Ah ! I ought rather to 
fly from Thy presence, and withdraw from 
adoring Thee, in this Blessed Sacrament, if 
I look only on my sins, and on my shame- 
less conduct towards Thee. But no ; upon 
that altar where Thou art enthroned, I be- 
hold Thee, in Thy chair of mercy, and 
therefore, I venture to approach Thee. But 
deeply penitent, and grieving for my past 
sins, I come determined, by Thy grace, 
never more to renew them. Oh ! pardon 
me, mv loving Saviour, and with Thv crrace 
strengthen my resolution. 



MY Jesus! fountain of inexhaustible 



benediction, Thou, Who before Thou 



Act of Petition. 




334 PRAYERS FOR BENEDICTION. 

didst ascend glorious into heaven, didst bless 
Thy apostles, oh ! bless me also, and with 
Thy benediction sanctify me. Bless my 
memory, that it may ever recollect Thee; 
bless my intellect, that it may ever think of 
Thee ; bless my will, that it may never seek 
or desire that which would displease Thee. 
Bless my body and its actions; bless my 
heart and its affections. Bless me now and 
in the hour of my death; bless me in time 
and in eternity; and grant that Thy most 
holy benediction, may be to me the sweet 
pledge of eternal felicity. Bless also my 
sisters and those under my charge ; bless my 
parents, my relations and friends; bless all 
the faithful who unitedly adore Thee in this 
blessed Sacrament; and may Thy benedic- 
tion be an augmentation of grace to the just, 
and effectually call to repentance all poor 
sinners. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS 

TO THE 

SACRED HEART OF JESUS. 



Prayer to the Sacred Heart. 

I FLY to Thee, Sacred Heart of my Sa- 
viour, for Thou art my sole refuge, my 
only hope ! Thou art the remedy of all my 
miseries, my consolation in all my wretched- 
ness, the reparation for all my infidelities, 
the supplement of all my deficiencies ; the 
expiation for all my sin, the hope, the end, 
of all my prayers ! Thou art the only one 
Who art never weary of me, and Who canst 
bear with my faults, because Thou lovest 
me with an infinite love. Therefore, O my 
God ! have mercy on me, according to Thy 
great mercy, and do with me, and for me, 
and in me, whatsoever Thou wilt; for I 
give myself entirely to Thee, divine Heart, 

335 



336 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 



with full confidence that Thou wilt never 
reject me ! 

From the neglect of Thy inspirations, de- 
liver me, O Lord ! 

And I commend to Thee, O Sacred Heart, 
the souls in Purgatory, the tepid Catholic, 
and the Protestant or infidel, recommended 
to our prayers, that Thou woufdst be pleased 
to visit, relieve and bless them, according to 
their several necessities, and according to the 
infinite riches of Thy abounding grace and 
mercy, through the merits of Thy sacred 
cross and passion. Amen. 

Reparation of Honor to the Sacred 
Heart. 

OMOST amiable and adorable Heart ! 
centre of all hearts, glowing with 
charity, and inflamed with zeal for the in- 
terest of Thy Father, and the salvation, of 
mankind ! O Heart ! ever sensible of our 
misery, and ever ready to redress our evils ; 
the real victim of love in the holy Eucharist, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 337 

and a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of 
men! Seeing that the generality of Chris- 
tians make no other return for these Thy 
mercies than contempt of Thy favors, forget- 
fulness of their own obligation, and ingrati- 
tude to the best of benefactors, is it not just, 
that we, Thy servants, penetrated with the 
deepest sense of the like indignities, should 
enter upon a due and satisfactory reparation 
of honor to Thy most sacred Majesty? Pros- 
trate, therefore, in body, and humbled in 
mind, before heaven and earth we solemnly 
declare our utter detestation and abhorrence 
of such a conduct. Inexpressible, we know, 
was the bitterness which the multitude of 
our sins brought on Thy tender Heart ; in- 
sufferable, the w r eight of our iniquities, which 
pressed Thy face to the earth in the Garden 
of Olives; and insurmountable Thy anguish, 
when, expiring with love, grief, and agony, 
on Mount Calvary, with Thy last breath 
Thou wouldst reclaim sinners to their duty 
and repentance. This we know, O dear 
Redeemer! and would most willingly re- 
22 



338 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 

dress these Thy sufferings by our own, or 
share with Thee in Thine. 

O merciful Jesus ! ever present on our 
altars, and with a heart open to receive all 
who "labor and are burdened ; " O adorable 
Heart, source of true contrition ! impart to 
our hearts the true spirit of penance and to 
our eyes a fountain of tears, that we may 
bewail and wash off our sins and those of 
the world. Pardon, divine Jesus ! all the 
injuries, reproaches and outrages done Thee, 
through the course of Thy holy life and 
bitter passion ; pardon all the impieties, ir- 
reverences, and sacrileges which have been 
committed against Thee in the Sacrament 
of the Eucharist, from its first institution. 
Graciously receive the small tribute of our 
sincere repentance, as an agreeable offering 
in Thy sight, and in requital for the benefits 
we daily receive from the altar, on which 
Thou art a living and continual sacrifice, 
and in union with that bloody Holocaust 
Thou didst present to Thy eternal Father 
on Mount Calvary, from the cross. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 339 



Sweet Jesus ! give Thy blessing to the 
ardent desire we now entertain, and the holy 
resolution we have taken of ever loving and 
adoring Thee, after a proper manner, in the 
holy Eucharist, Thy Sacrament of Love; 
thus to repair, by a true conversion of heart, 
and a becoming zeal for Thy glory, our past 
negligence and infidelity. But Thou, O 
adorable Heart ! Who knowest the clay of 
. which we are formed, be Thou our mediator 
with Thy heavenly Father,Whorn w T e have so 
grievously offended. Strengthen our weak- 
ness ; confirm our resolution ; and with Thy 
charity, humility, meekness and patience, 
cover the multitude of our iniquities. Be 
Thou our support, our refuge, and our 
strength, that nothing henceforward, in life 
or death, may separate us from Thee. Amen. 



The Prayer op St. Gertrude to the Heart 
of Jesus. 

HAIL ! O Sacred Heart of Jesus ! living 
and quickening source of eternal life, 



340 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 

infinite treasury of the divinity, burning fur- 
nace of divine love ! Thou art my refuge 
and my sanctuary ! O my amiable Saviour ! 
consume my heart with that burning fire 
with which Thine is ever inflamed; pour 
down on my soul those graces which flow 
from Thy love, and. let my heart be so united 
with Thine that our wills may be one, and 
mine in all things conformed to Thine. May 
Thine be the standard and rule of my desires 
and of my actions. Amen. 

A Devout Aspiration to the Sacred 
Heart. 

MOST amiable Heart of Jesus ! beloved 
object of our most tender affections ! 
may all honor, glory, love and benedic- 
tion, be ever given to Thee! Be Thou our 
comfort in adversity, our guide in pros- 
perity, our safety in dangers, and protec- 
tion against all our enemies, visible and 
invisible. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 341 



The Litany of the Sacred Heart. 
ORD, have mercy on us. 



§ J Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of Heaven, 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world. 
God, the Holy Ghost, 
Holy Trinity, one God, 
Heart of Jesus, 

Heart of Jesus, hypostatically united to hp- 
the Eternal Word, § 

CD 

Heart of Jesus, sanctuary of the Divinity a 
and tabernacle of the most Holy Trinity, J- § 
Heart of Jesus, temple of sanctity, and ^ 



fountain of all graces, 
Heart of Jesus, most meek and humble, 
Heart of Jesus, most chaste and obedient 
Heart of Jesus, furnace of love and source 

of all contrition, 
Heart of Jesus, treasure of wisdom and 

goodness, 




c 



342 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 



Heart of Jesus, throne of mercy and abyss " 

of all virtues, 
Heart of Jesus, sorrowful in the garden, 

and spent with a bloody sweat, 
Heart of Jesus, saturated with reproaches, 

and consumed for our sins, 
Heart of Jesus, made obedient even unto 

the death o? the cross, 
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, and 

the refuge of sinners. 
Heart of Jesus, fortitude of the just, and 

comfort of the afflicted. 
Heart of Jesus, strength of the tempted, 

and terror of the devils, 
Heart of Jesus, sanctification of hearts, 

and perseverance of the good, 
Heart of Jesus, hope of the dying, joy of 

the blessed, and delight of all the saints, 
Lamb of God, &c, (three times.) 

^f. 0 most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have 
mercy on us. 

That we may worthily love Thee with 
our whole hearts. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 343 



Let us Pray. 

OGOD ! Who out of Thy immense love 
hast given to the faithful the most 
Sacred Heart of Thy Son, our Lord, as the 
object of Thy tender affection ; grant, we 
beseech Thee, that we may so love and 
honor this pledge of Thy love on earth, as 
by it to merit the love of Thee and Thy 
gift and be eternally loved by Thee and this 
most blessed Heart in heaven ; through the 
same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

THROUGH Thy Sacred Heart, O Jesus ! 
overflowing with all sweetness, we 
recommend to Thee ourselves and all our 
concerns, our friends, benefactors, parents, 
our relations, our superiors and our enemies; 
take under Thy protection this house, city 
and country ; extend Thy care to all such as 
lie under any affliction, and to those who 
labor in the agony and pangs of death ; cast 
an eye of compassion on the obstinate sinner, 
and more particularly on the poor suffering 



344 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 

souls in purgatory, as also on those who are 
engaged and united with us in the holy con- 
federacy of honoring and worshipping Thee. 
Bless these in particular, O divine Jesus ! 
and bless thern according to the extent of 
Thy infinite goodness, mercy and charity. 

Amen. 

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart 
of Jesus, implying a Renovation of Tows. 

OMY adorable Redeemer! I give and 
consecrate myself to Thee without 
reserve ; I am as it were nailed to Thy cross 
by my holy vows. I renew them, in Thy 
divine Heart, in presence of heaven and 
earth, and I return thanks to Thee for hav- 
ing called me to become thus united to Thee. 
I confess that Thy yoke is neither hard nor 
heavy, and I do not feel entangled in my 
ties; I would on the contrary multiply every 
day the sacred bonds that unite me to Thee. 

I embrace then, until death, the blessed 
cross of my vocation, it will be, during my 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 345 



whole life, my sole joy, my only glory. God 
forbid that I should ever find glory, save in 
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom 
the world is crucified to me, and I to the 
world. May I have no other treasure than 
poverty, no other pleasure than mortification 
of the senses, no other liberty than obedience, 
no other choice than abnegation, no other 
delight than bearing contempt, no love but 
for my Jesus, His hidden life, His suffer- 
ings, His cross ! No, my Saviour, I will 
never separate myself from Thee, I will 
cling to Thee alone; the most difficult paths 
of the perfect life to which I am called and 
obliged to tend give me no fear, because 
Thou art my light and my strength. I 
hope that Thou wilt make me firm in the 
time of temptation, victorious over all the 
efforts of my enemies, and that Thou wilt 
extend over me that beneficent hand which 
has heaped so many favors upon me and is 
ever ready to grant me more. I implore 
Thee, my adorable Jesus, by Thy precious 
blood, by Thy holy wounds and by Thy 



346 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 



most Sacred Heart, grant that through the 
consecration I make to Thee of all that I 
am, I may become this day, a new and per- 
fect victim of Thy divine love. Amen. 

Little Beads of the Sacred Heart. 

Begin with the prayer : 

0 ANGEL of God, who art my guar-' 
dian ! and to. whose care I am com- 
mitted by the supreme clemency, enlighten, 
guard and direct me this day and every day, 
and at the hour of my death. Amen. 

On the first large bead : 

Eternal Father ! I offer Thee the precious 
blood of Jesus Christ, in expiation for my 
sins, and for the wants of the holy Church. 

Amen. 

On the first small bead, make an act of faith, on 
the second, an act of hope, on the third an act of 
charity. These may be made as follows : 

My God ! I believe in Thee, because Thou 
art Truth itself. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 34 T 

My God ! I hope in Thee, because Thou 
art kind and merciful, and faithful to Thy 
promises. 

My God ! I love Thee because Thou art 
infinitely kind and beautiful. 

On each of the large beads which precede the de- 
cades : 

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make 
my heart like unto Thine ! 

On each of the small beads of the decades : 

Sweetest Heart of Jesus, be my love ! 
Sweetest Heart of Mary, be my salvation ! 

finish with the invocations : 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart 
and my soul. 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me in my last 
ao;onv. 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, let my soul send 
forth her last sigh in peace, with you to aid 
me. 

To each of the ejaculations which compose the little 
beads, an Indulgence is attached, as may be seen 
where these are given separately. 



348 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 



Aspirations to the Sacred Heart. 

OMY God! Thou seest the wounds of 
my soul ; I disclose them to Thee, 
have mercy on me. I am sick, and Thou 
art a charitable physician ; I am full of 
misery, and Thou art mercy by excellence. 
All my hope is in the infinite greatness of 
Thy bounty. (St. Augustine.) 

O sweet Jesus ! unite me ever more and 
more to Thy Heart, that I may be consumed 
by the love of Thee, and be lost in its sweet- 
ness. (St. Francis of Sales.) 

O my amiable Saviour ! may my heart be 
so closely united to Thine, that Thy will 
may be mine, and mine be conformable to 
Thine for all eternity. (St. Gertrude.) 

O Jesus! make me understand and imi- 
tate the life of humility, of love and zeal 
which Thy divine Heart leads in the holy 
Tabernacle. 

O God ! when will it please Thee to take 
away this sinful heart of mine and to put 
Thine own in its place, if not when I receive 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 349 



that wonderful Sacrament which is the most 
sacred pledge of Thy love. (St Francis of 
Sales.) 

O Jesus ! make men understand Thy in- 
finite claims to their love. (St. Liguori.) 

O Jesus ! may the fire of Thy love ex- 
tinguish the fire of divine Justice. 

O Sacred Heart of Jesus ! shower Thy 
blessings on Thy holy Church, on her min- 
isters and on all her children. Strengthen 
the just, convert the sinner, assist the dying, 
deliver the souls in Purgatory, and establish 
in all hearts the mild reign of Thy love. 

O Lord Jesus ! save, bless, confirm and 
preserve the heart, which it has pleased Thee 

to call to Thy service Yes, Lord 

Jesus! replenish and fill to overflowing with 
grace, peace, consolation and benediction, that 
weak and wretched heart, which has now 
formed the desire of laboring more faith- 
fully than ever for Thy glory. Amen. (St. 
Francis of Sales.) 

Lord ! Lord ! draw all souls to Thy love. 

(Blessed Marg. Mary.) 



350 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 



O Heart of Jesus ! I implore 

That I may love Thee ever more and more. 

A NoVENA TO THE SACRED HEART. 

OS ACRED and adorable Heart of Jesus ! 
Furnace of eternal charity ! Ocean of 
infinite mercy ! Consolation of the afflicted ! 
Refuge of sinners ! and Hope of the whole 
world ! I most fervently adore Thee, and 
unite my heart, my affections, and suppli- 
cations, to the perpetual homage Thou Thy- 
self on our altar, renderest to Thy eternal 
Father. 

Most amiable Heart ! Who hast loved us 
with an eternal love, supply what is wanting 
in my love, and receive my desire, at least of 
loving Thee with all the ardor and sincerity 
Thou so justly meritest. But remember, O 
adorable Heart ! that Thou hast not disclosed 
Thyself to us only as an object of our adora- 
tions; Thou desirest much more to engage 
our love, and to become the ground and 
tender motive of our tender confidence. For 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 351 



this end Thou wast pierced through with a 
lance on the cross; and for the same purpose 
Thou remainest a daily victim of Thy own 
love on our altars. O infinitely compassion- 
ate Heart of Jesus ! which was overwhelmed 
with sorrow in the garden of Olives, at the 
view of our spiritual and corporeal miseries ! 
I recur to Thee now with all the confidence 
Thou desirest I should repose in the extent 
of Thy power, and the riches of Thy mercy. 
Convinced that those things which are im- 
possible to human means, are infinitely easy 
to Thee ; and relying with an humble, stead- 
fast faith on the sacred words of Truth itself, * 
that whatever we ask the Father in the name 
of Jesus should be granted ; I now most 
humbly implore, in that adorable name, in 
virtue of that promise, and through the 
abundant mercies of the Sacred Heart of 
Jesus, the particular favor I petition for in 
this Novena. [Specify it.'] 

O blessed St. Gertrude, and all ye glorious 
servants of Christ, who, while on earth, were 
particularly devoted to the Sacred Heart of 



352 DEVOTIONS TO THE SACRED HEART. 



Jesus ! join your prayers with mine, and im- 
plore that the object of the petition which I 
now make, and especially offer up through 
your intercession may be granted. Beg like- 
wise, from this adorable Heart, which has 
dominion over all hearts, and could in a 
moment change the most obdurate, to have 
compassion on those who are in the dreadful 
state of mortal sin, and to open to us all the 
treasures of its mercy at the hour of our 
death. Amen. 



A Novena in Honor of the Name of Jesus. 

O MERCIFUL Jesus! Who didst in 
early infancy commence Thy office of 
1 Saviour, by shedding Thy precious blood, 
and assuming for us that name which is 
above all names; we thank Thee for such 
early proofs of Thy infinite love; we ven- 
erate Thy sacred name, in union with the 
profound respect of the Angel who first 
announced it to the earth, and unite our 
affections to the sentiments of tender devo- 



DEVOTIONS .TO THE SACRED HEART. 353 

tion, which the adorable name of Jesus has, 
in all ages, enkindled in the hearts of Thy 
servants. 

Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerr- 
ing word, and penetrated with confidence in 
Thy mercy, we now most humbly remind 
Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that, 
when two or three should assemble in Thy 
name, Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst 
of them. Come, then, into the midst of us, 
most amiable Jesus! for it is in Thy sacred 
name we are here assembled. Come into our 
hearts, that Thy holy Spirit may pray in and 
by us; and mercifully grant us, through that 
adorable name, which is the joy of heaven, the 
terror of hell, the consolation of the afflicted, 
and the solid ground of our unlimited con- 
fidence, all the petitions we make in this 
Novena. 

O blessed Mother of our Redeemer ! who 
didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings 
of thy dear Son, when He shed His sacred 
blood, and assumed for us the name of Jesus; 
obtain for us, through that adorable name, 
23 



354 



NOVENA TO THE CHILD JESUS. 



the favors we petition in this Novena. Beg 
also, that the most ardent love may imprint 
on our hearts that sacred name, that it may 
be always in our minds, and frequently on 
our lips; that it may be our defence in temp- 
tations, and our refuge in danger during our 
lives; and our consolation and support in the 
hour of death. Amen. 

Novena in Honor of the Child Jesus, . 

WHICH MAY BE BEGUN OX THE IGtH DAY OF ANY 

MONTH. 

Indulgence of one year on each day of the Novena. 

ETERNAL Father ! I offer to Thy honor 
and glory, and for my own salvation, 
and for the salvation of all the world, the 
mystery of the birth of our divine Saviour. 
Glory be to the Father, &c. 
Eternal Father ! I offer to Thy honor and 
glory, and for my eternal salvation, the suf- 
ferings of the most holy Virgin and of St. 
Joseph in that long and weary journey from 



NO VENA TO THE CHILD JESUS. 355 



Xazareth to Bethlehem ; I offer Thee the 
sorrows of their hearts, when they found no 
place wdierein to shelter themselves, when 
the Saviour of the world was to be born. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Eternal Father ! I offer to Thy honor and 
glory, and for my eternal salvation, the stable 
where Jesus was born, the hard straw which 
served Him for a bed, the cold He suffered, 
the swaddling clothes which bound Him, the 
tears He shed and His tender, infant cries. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Eternal Father ! I offer to Thy honor and 
glory, and for my eternal salvation, the pain 
which the holy Child Jesus felt in His ten- 
der body, when He submitted* Himself to 
the cruel knife of circumcision ; I offer Thee 
that precious blood which then first He shed 
for the salvation of the whole race of man. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Eternal Father ! I offer to Thy honor and 
glory, and for my eternal salvation, the hu- 
mility, mortification, patience, charity, all the 
virtues of the Child Jesus; and I thank 



356 NO VENA TO THE CHILD JESUS. 



Thee, and I love Thee, and I bless Thee 
without end, for the ineffable mystery of the 
Incarnation of the Divine Word. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

y. And the Word was made flesh. 

Jlr. And He dwelt among us. 

Let us Pray. 

OGOD ! Whose only-begotten Son was 
made manifest to us in the substance 
of our flesh; grant, we beseech Thee, that 
through Him, our souls may be inwardly 
renewed, Whom our eyes have seen, like 
unto ourselves. Who now liveth and reign- 
etii with Thee forever and ever. Amen. 

For making a No vena, preparatory to Christmas 
day, three huudred days 7 Indulgence each day ; Ple- 
nary Indulgence on Christmas day or any day within 
the octave, on the usual conditions. 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



NovENA in Honor of Jesus Crucified. 

JESUS Christ crucified ! Son of the holy 
"Virgin Mary, incline Thy sacred head 
and listen to my petitions and sighs, as Thou 
didst listen to Thy Eternal Father on Mount 
Thabor. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Jesus Christ crucified ! Son of the holy 
Virgin Mary, open Thy sacred eyes, and 
look on me as Thou didst look on Thv 
holy Mother from the cross. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Jesus Christ crucified ! Son of the most 
holy Virgin Mary, open Thy sacred lips, 
and speak to my afflicted heart as Thou 
didst speak to St. John, when Thou didst 
recommend to him Thy dear Mother. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Jesus Christ crucified ! Son of the most 
holy Virgin Mary, open Thy sacred arms, 

357 



358 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



and receive me, Thy poor child, as Thou 
didst receive the hard wood of the cross for 
the love of me and all sinners. 
Hail Mary, &c. 

Jesus Christ crucified ! Son of the most 
holy Virgin Mary, open Thy Sacred Heart, 
that seat of love and mercy, and receive 
mine into it; make it wholly Thine; hear 
my prayers and grant my petitions. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Prayers for the Stations or the Way of the Cross. 




O obtain the Indulgences attached to this devotion, 
the following conditions must be observed : 



1st. The Way of the Cross should be regularly es- 
tablished, and with the approbation of the Ordinary. 

2nd. The Fourteen Stations should be visited in 
order, as indicated by the pictures or images, ar- 
ranged in the Church for that purpose. 

3rd. At each Station we should meditate, for at 
least a few moments, on the sufferings of our Ke- 
deemer therein represented, and endeavor to excite 
within our hearts love for him, and sincere sorrow 
for our sins. (No other special prayers are required.) 

4th. We should conclude by reciting the Lord's 
Prayer, the Angelical Salutation, and Glory be to 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 359 



the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, 
six times for the intention of the Church. 

5th. We should be in the state of grace : yet even 
the most unhappy or guilty sinner may with confi- 
dence enter on this Holy Way, if it he only with a 
contrite heart. He will not have followed his suffer- 
ing Redeemer long, before tears of repentance and 
resolutions to change his life will be the blessed re- 
ward of his humble piety. This exercise may be also 
very appropriately directed to obtain relief for the 
suffering souls in Purgatory. 

6th. The Indulgences, plenary and partial, granted 
to the Way of the Cross, are very extensive. Even 
the sick, and persons at sea, can gain them, in their 
own chambers, by performing the prescribed devo- 
tions before a crucifix blessed for that purpose. To 
gain the Plenary Indulgence granted to those per- 
forming the Stations, it is not necessary to confess 
and communicate, but only to be in a state of srace. 

Preparatory Prayer. 

Kneeling before the altar, begin by an act of Con- 
trition, then say : 

0 JESUS, our adorable Saviour! behold 
us prostrate at Thy feet, imploring 
Thy mercy for ourselves and for the souls 
of all the faithful departed. Vouchsafe to 



360 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



apply to us the infinite merits of Thy pas- 
* sion, on which we are now about to medi- 
tate. Grant that while we trace this path 
of sighs and tears, our hearts may be so 
touched with contrition and repentance, that 
we may be ready to embrace with joy all the 
crosses and sufferings and humiliations of 
this our life and pilgrimage. 

Thou, O Lord ! shalt open my lips. 

And my tongue shall announce Thy 

praise. 

O God ! come to my assistance. 
O Lord ! make haste to help me. 
ir. Glory be, &c. 
As it was, &c. 

First Station. 

Jesus Christ Condemned to Death, 

if. We adore Thee, O Christ! and we 
bless Thy holy name. 

Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast 
redeemed the world. 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 361 



leaving the house of Caiphas, where He had been 
blasphemed, and the house of Herod, where He had 
been mocked, Jesus is dragged before Pilate, His 
back torn with scourges, His head crowned with 
thorns; and He, Who on the last day will judge 
the living and the dead, is Himself condemned to a 
disgraceful death. 

Prayer. 

IT was for us that Thou didst suffer, O 
biessed Jesus ! it was for our sins Thou 
wast condemned to die. O grant that we 
may detest them from the bottom of our 
hearts, and by this repentance obtain Thy 
mercy and pardon. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

y. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 

Have mercy on us, O Lord ! have 
mercy on us. 

ir. May the souls of the faithful departed, 
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 
J&. Amen. 

While passing from one Station to another, a verse 
of the Stabat Mater may be sung or said. 



362 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Stabat Mater dolorosa, At the cross her station 
Juxta crucem lacrymosa, keeping, 
Dum pendebat JTilius. Stood the mournful Mother 

weeping, 
Close to J esus to the last. 

Second Station. 

Jesus Receives the Cross. 

y. We adore Thee, &c, 
JJr. Because, &c. 

A heavy cross is laid upon the bruised shoulders of 
Jesus. He receives it with meekness, nay, with a 
secret joy, for it is the instrument with which he is 
to redeem the world. 

Prayer. 

O JESUS ! grant us, by virtue of Thy 
cross, to embrace with meekness and 
cheerful submission the difficulties of our 
state, and to be ever ready to take up our 
cross and follow Thee. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

"jK Have mercy on us, G Lord ! 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 363 



J£. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! have 
mercy on us. 

1'. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
JSr. Amen. 

Cujus animam gementein, Through her heart, His 
Contristatam et dolentem, sorrow sharing, 
Pertransivit gladius. All His bitter anguish 

bearing, 
Now at length the sword 

had passed. 

Third Station. 

Jesus Falls the First Time under the weight 
of the Cross. 

We adore Thee, &c. 
{Jr. Because, &c. 

Bowed down under the weight of the Cross, Jesus 
slowly sets forth on the way to Calvary, amidst the 
mockeries and insults of the crowd. His agony in 
the garden has exhausted His body ; he is sore with 
blows and wounds ; His strength fails Him, He falls 
to the ground under the Cross. 

Prayer. 

0 JESUS ! Who for our sins didst bear 
the heavv burden of the cross, and 



364 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



fall under its weight, may the thoughts 
of Thy sufferings make us watchful over 
ourselves, and save us from any fall into 
sin. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

'if. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
J£. Have mercy on us, &c. 
'if. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
Amen. 



O quam tristis et afflicta, 
Fuit ilia benedicta 
Mater unigeniti ! 



0 ! how sad and sore dis- 
tressed, 

Was that Mother highly 
blest 

Of the sole-begotten one ! 



Fourth Station. 

Jesus is met by His Blessed Mother.y 

ir. We adore Thee, &c. 
Because, &c. 

Still burdened with His cross, and wounded yet 
more by His fall, Jesus proceeds on His way. He is 
*met by His Mother. "What a meeting must that 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



365 



have been ! TVhat a sword of anguish must have 
pierced that bosom ! "What must have been the 
compassion of that Son for His holv 3Iother ! 

Fro.yer. 

0 JESUS ! by the compassion which Thou 
didst feel for Thy Mother, have com- 
passion on us, and give us a share in her 
intercession. O Mary^ most afflicted Mother! 
intercede for us, that through the sufferings 
of Thy Son we may be delivered from the 
wrath to come. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
Jlr. Have mercy on us ; &c. 
V. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
J£. Amen. 



Qua? mcerebat et dolebat ; 
Pia Mater cum videbat 
Nati pcenas inelyti. 



Christ above in torment 

hangs : 
She beneath beholds the 

pangs 

Of her dying glorious 
Son. 



366 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Fitth Station. 

The Gross is Laid upon Simon of Gyrene, 

~ir. We adore Thee, &c. 
Because, &c. 

As the strength of Jesus fails, and He is unable to 
proceed, the executioners seize and compel Simon of 
Cyrene to carry His cross. The virtue of that cross 
changed his heart, and from a compulsory task, it 
became a privilege and a joy. 

Prayer. 

OLORD Jesus ! may it be our privilege 
also to bear Thy cross ; may we glory 
in nothing else ; by it may the world be cru- 
cified unto us, and we unto the world ; may 
we never shrink from sufferings, but rather 
rejoice if we may be counted worthy to suffer 
for Thy name's sake. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 

Have mercy on us, &c. 

May the souls of the faithful, &c. 

Amen. 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 361 



Quis est homo qui non fleret, Is there one who would 

Matrem Christi si videret not weep, 

In tanto supplicio ? Whelm 'd in mysteries 

so deep, 
Christ's dear Mother to 

hehold ? 

Sixth Station. 

The Face of Jesus is Wiped by Veronica. 

f. We adore Thee, &c. 
Because, &c. 

As Jesus proceeds on the way, covered with the 
sweat of death, a woman, moved with compassion, 
makes her way through the crowd, and wipes His 
face with a handkerchief. As a reward of her piety, 
the impression of His sacred countenance is miracu- 
lously imprinted upon the handkerchief. 

Prayer. 

0 JESUS ! may the contemplation of Thy 
sufferings move us with the deepest 
compassion, make us hate our sins, and kin- 
dle in our hearts more fervent love for Thee. 
May Thy image be graven on our minds, 
until we are transformed into Thy likeness. 



368 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

rf. Have mercy on us ; O Lord ! 
|&. Have mercy on us, &c. 

May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
Jfc. Amen. 

Quis non posset contristari Can the human heart 
Pi am Matrern contemplari, refrain 
Dolentem cum Filio ? From partaking in her 

pain, 

In that Mother's pain 
untold? 

Seventh Station. 

Jesus Falls a Second Time. 

f. We adore Thee, &c. 
Because, &c. 

The pain of His wound and the loss of blood, in- 
creasing at every step of His way, again His strength 
fails Him, and Jesus falls to the ground a second time. 

Prayer. 

O JESUS! falling again under the burden 
of our sins, and of Thy sufferings for 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 369 



our sins, how often have we grieved Thee by- 
oar repeated fall into sin ! Oh ! may we 
rather die than ever offend Thee again. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

~if. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
Have mercy on us, &c. 
May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
J$r. Amen. 

Pro peccatis suae gentis Bruised, derided, cursed, 
Yidit Jesum in tormentis denied, 
Et fiagellis subditum. She beheld her tender 

Child 

All with bloody scourges 
rent. 

Eighth Station. 

The Women of Jerusalem Mourn for our 
Lord. 

f. We adore Thee, &c. 
Because, &c. 

At the sight of the sufferings of Jesus, some holy 
women in the crowd were so touched with sympathy, 
that they openly bewailed and lamented Him; Jesus, 
2i 



3 TO DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



knowing the things that were to come to pass upon 
Jerusalem because of their rejection of Him, turned 
to them and said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep 
not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your 
children. 

Prayer. 

OLORD Jesus ! we mourn, and will 
mourn, both for Thee and for our- 
selves, for Thy sufferings and for our sins 
which caused them. Oh ! teach us so to 
mourn, that we may be comforted and escape 
those dreadful judgments prepared for all 
who reject or neglect Thee in this life. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

"ir. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
jjr. Have mercy on us, &c. 
if. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
J£. Amen. 

Yidit suum dulcem Naturn For the sins of His own 
Moriendo desolatum, nation 
Dum emisit spiritum. She saw Him hang in 

desolation, 
Till His spirit forth He 
sent. 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 371 



JS'inth Station. 
Jesus Falls the Tliird Time under the Cross. 

V. We adore Thee, &c. 
{L Because, &c. 

Jesus lias now arrived at the summit of Calvary ; 
"but before He reached the spot where He is to be 
crucified, His strength again fails Him, and He falls 
the third time, to be again dragged up aiTd goaded 
onward by the brutal soldiery. 

Prayer. 

OLORD Jesus! we entreat Thee, by the 
merits of this Thy third most painful 
fall, to pardon our frequent relapses and our 
long continuance in sin, and may the thought 
of these Thy sufferings make us hate our sins 
more and more. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

ifr. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
{Jr. Have mercy on us, &c. 
V. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
|&. Amen. 



372 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Pia Mater, fons amoris 
Me sentire vim doloris 
Fac, ut tecum lugeam. 



O thou Mother, fount 
of love ! 



Touch my spirit from 
above, 



Make my heart with 
thine accord. 



Tenth Station. 

Jesus is Stripped of His Garments. 

f. We adore Thee, &c. 
Because, &c. 

Arrived at last at the place of sacrifice, they pre- 
pare to crucify Him. His garments are torn from 
His bleeding body, and He, the Holy of holies, stands 
exposed to the vulgar gaze of the rude and scoffing 
multitude. 

Prayer, 

OLORD Jesus ! Thou didst endure this 
shame for our most shameful deeds. 
Strip us, we beseech Thee, of all false shame, 
conceit and pride, and make us so humble 
ourselves voluntarily in this life, that we 
may escape everlasting ignominy in the 
world to come. 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



373 



Our Father, Hail Mary and (J lory be to 
the Father. 

Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
Have mercy on us, &c. 
Y, May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
$L Amen. 

Fac ut ardeat cor meum Make me feel as Thou 

In amando Christum Deum, hast felt ; 
JJi sibi complaceam. Make my soul to glow 

and melt 
With the love of Christ 
my Lord. 

Eleventh Station. 
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross. 

We adore Thee, &c. 
]£f. Because, &c. 

The cross is laid upon the ground, and Jesus is 
stretched upon His bed of death. At one and the 
same time, He offers His bruised limbs to His heav- 
enly Father in behalf of sinful man, and to His fierce 
executioners to be nailed by them to the disgrace- 
ful wood. The blows are struck! the blood gushes 
forth ! 



374 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Prayer. 

O JESUS ! nailed to the cross, fasten our 
hearts there also, that they may be 
united to Thee until death shall strike us 
with its fatal blow, and with our last breath 
we shall have yielded up our souls to Thee. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

Have merey on us, O Lord ! 
Jfc. Have mercy on us, &c. 

May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
|&. Amen. 

Sancta Mater istud agas, Holy Mother! pierce me 
Crucifixi fige plagas, through ; 

Cordi meo valide. In my heart each wound 

renew, 
Of my Saviour crucified. 

Twelfth Station. 
Jesus Dies upon the Cross. 

*^ r . We adore Thee, &c. 

Jfc. Because, &c. * 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



375 



For three hours has Jesus hung upon His transfixed 
hands ; His blood has run in streams down His body, 
and bedewed the ground ; and, in the midst of excru- 
ciating sufferings, He has pardoned His murderers, 
promised the bliss of Paradise to the good thief, and 
committed His blessed Mother and beloved disciple 
to each other's care. All is now consummated ; and 
meekly bowing down His head, He gives up the 
ghost. 

Prayer. 

0 JESUS ! we devoutly embrace that 
honored cross, where Thou didst 
love us even unto death. In that death 
we place all our confidence. Henceforth, 
let us live only for Thee ; and in dying 
for love of Thee, let us die loving Thee, 
and in Thy sacred arms. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
Jk. Have mercy on us, &c. 
rf. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
Amen. 



376 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Tui nati vulnerati, 

Tarn dignati, pro me pati, 

Pcenas raecura divide. 



Let me share with thee 
His pain, 



"Who for all my sins 
was slain, 



"Who for me in torments 
died. 



Thirteenth Station. 



Jesus is Laid in the Arms of His Blessed 
Mother, 

ir. We adore Thee, &c. 
J£. Because, &c. 

The multitude has left the heights of Calvary, and 
none remain save the beloved disciple and the holy 
women, who at the foot of the cross, are striving 
to stem the grief of Christ's inconsolable Mother. 
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take down the 
body of her divine Son from the cross, and deposit it 
in her arms. 



THOU, whose grief was boundless as 



V/ an ocean that hath no limits ! Mary, 
Mother of God, give us a share in thy most 
holy sorrow in the sufferings of thy Son, and 
have compassion on our infirmities. Accept 



Prayer. 




DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED 317 



us as thy children with the beloved disciple. 
Show thyself a Mother unto us ; and may 
He, through thee, receive our prayer, Who 
for us vouchsafed to be thy Son. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

y. Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 

J8r. Have mercy on us, &c. 

~ir. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
Amen. 

Fac me tecum pie flere, Let me mingle tears 

Crucifixo condolere, . with thee, 

Donee ego vixero. Mourning Him Who 

mourned for me, 
All the days that I 

may live. 

Fourteenth Station. 

Jesus is Laid in the Sepulchre. 

f . We adore Thee, &c. 
J£. Because, &c. 

The body of her dearly-beloved Son is taken from 
His Mother, and laid by the disciples in the tomb. 
The tomb is closed, and there the lifeless body re- 
mains until the hour of its glorious resurrection. 



378 



DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



Prayer. 



WE too, O God ! will descend into the 
grave whenever it shall please Thee, 
as it shall please Thee and wheresoever it 
shall please Thee. Let Thy just decrees be 
fulfilled ; let our sinful bodies return to their 
parent dust; but do Thou, in Thy great 
mercy, receive our immortal souls, and when 
our bodies have risen again, place them like- 
wise in Thy kingdom, that we may love and 
bless Thee forever and ever. Amen. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father. 

^\ Have mercy on us, O Lord ! 
JJr. Have mercy on us, &c. 
^f. May the souls of the faithful, &c. 
Amen. 

Juxta crucem tecum stare, By the cross with Thee 

Et me tibi sociare, to stay, 

In planctu desidero. There with Thee to 

weep and pray, 
Is all I ask of Thee to 

give. 

Ant. Christ was made for us obedient unto 
death, even the death of the cross. 




DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 379 



Let us Pray. 

LOOK down, O Lord ! we beseech Thee, 
upon this Thy family, for which our 
Lord Jesus Christ did not refuse to be de- 
livered into the hands of wicked men, and 
to endure the torment of the cross ; Who 
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity 
of the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. 

Amen. 

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be to 
the Father, &c, six times. 

Visit to Our Lady of Sorrows, 

WHICH MAY BE MADE BEFORE HER ALTAR OR IMAGE, 
AFTER PERFORMING THE STATIONS. 

OMOST holy Mother ! Queen of Sor- 
rows, who didst follow thy beloved 
Son through all the Way of the Cross, and 
whose heart was pierced with a fresh sword 
of grief at all the stations of that most sor- 
rowful journey; obtain for us, we beseech 



380 DEVOTIONS TO JESUS CRUCIFIED. 



thee, O most loving Mother ! a perpetual 
remembrance of our blessed Saviour's Cross 
and Death, and a true and tender devotion 
to all the mysteries of His most holy Pas- 
sion ; obtain for us the grace to hate sin, 
even as He hated it in the agony in the 
garden ; to endure wrong and insult with all 
patience, as He endured them in the judg- 
ment hall; to be meek and humble in all 
our trials, as He was before His judges; to 
love our enemies, even as He loved His 
murderers, and prayed for them upon the 
cross; and to glorify God and do good to 
our neighbors, even as He did in every 
mystery of His sufferings. O Queen of 
Martyrs! who, by the dolors of thy im- 
maculate heart on Calvary, didst merit to 
share the Passion of our most dear Redeemer, 
obtain for us some portion of thy compas- 
sion, that for the love of Jesus we, crucified 
to the world in this life, in the life to come 
may, by His infinite merits and thy power- 
ful intercession, reign with Him in glory 
everlasting. Amen. 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD 



According to St. Matthew (xxvi, xxvii, 1-66.) 
4 T that time Jesus said to His disciples: 



JTIl You know that after two days shall be 
the pasch, and the Sou of raau shall be deliv- 
ered up to be crucified. Theu were gathered 
together the chief-priests and aucients of the 
people into the court of the high-priest, who was 
called Caiphas : and they consulted together, 
that by subtilty they might apprehend Jesus, 
and put Him to death. But they said: Not on 
the festival day, lest perhaps there should be a 
tumult among the people, And when Jesus 
was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the 
leper, there came to Him a woman having an 
alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured 
it on His head as ne was at table. And the 
disciples seeing it, had indignation, saying: To 
what purpose is this waste ? for this might have 
been sold for much and given to the poor, — 
And Jesus knowing it, said to them : Why 
do you trouble this woman ? For she hath 
wrought a good work upon Me For the poor 




3S1 



382 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



you have always with you : but Me you have 
not always. For she in pouring this ointment 
upon My body, hath done it for My burial. 
Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel 
shall be preached in the whole world, that also 
which she hath done, shall be told for a memory 
of her. Then went one of the twelve, who was 
called Judas Iscariot, to the chief-priests, and 
said to them: What will you. give me, and I 
will deliver Him unto you ? But they appointed 
him thirty pieces of silver. And from thence- 
forth he sought opportunity to betray Him. 

And on the first day of the Azymes the dis- 
ciples came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt Thou 
that we prepare for Thee to eat the pasch ? 
But Jesus said : Go ye into the city to a certain 
man, and say to him: The master saith : My 
time is near at hand, with thee I make the pasch 
with my disciples. And the disciples did as 
Jesus had appointed to them, and they pre- 
pared the. pasch. But when it was evening, He 
sat down w r ith His twelve disciples. And whilst 
they were eating, He said : Amen, I say to you, 
that one of you is about to betray Me. And 
they being very much troubled, began every one 
to say: Is it I, Lord? But He answering, 



THE PASSION OF OtR LORD. 



383 



said: He that dippeth his hand with Me in the 
dish, he shall betray Me. The Son of man in- 
deed goeth, as it is written of Him : but woe to 
that man, by whom the Son of man shall be 
betrayed: it were better for him, if that man 
had not been born. And Judas that betrayed 
Him, answering said : Is it I, Rabbi ? He saith 
to him : Thou hast said it. And whilst they 
were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, 
and broke : and gave to His disciples, and said : 
Take ye, and eat : this iS My body. And taking 
the chalice He gave thanks ; and gave to them, 
saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is My 
blood of the new testament which shall be shed 
for many unto remission of sins. And I say 
to you I will not drink from henceforth of this 
fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall 
drink it with vou new in the kingdom of My 
Father. And a hymn being said, they went out 
unto Mount Olivet. Then Jesus saith to them : 
All you shall be scandalized in Me this night. 
For it is written: "I will strike the shepherd, 
and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.' 7 
But after I shall be risen again, I will go before 
you into Galilee. And Peter answering said 
to Him : Although all shall be scandalized in 



384 THE PASSION OF OUR LORD, 



Thee, I will never be scandalized. Jesus said 
to him : Amen, I say to thee, that in this night 
before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. 
Peter saith to Him : Yea, though I should die 
with Thee, I will not deny Thee. And in like 
manner said all the disciples. Then Jesus came 
with them into a country place which is called 
Gethsemani: and He said to His disciples: Sit 
you here, till I go yonder and pray. And 
taking with Him Peter and the two sons of 
Zebedee, be began to *grow sorrowful and to 
be sad. Then He saith to them : My soul is 
sorrowful even unto death : stay you here and 
watch with Me. And going a little further, He 
fell upon His face, praying, and saying: My 
Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass 
from Me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as 
Thou wilt. And He cometh to His disciples : 
and findeth them asleep, and He saith to Peter: 
What? Could you not watch one hour with 
Me ? Watch ye, and pray that, ye enter not 
into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, 
but the flesh weak. Again the second time, 
He went and prayed, saying: My Father, if 
this chalice may not pass away, but I must 
drink it, Thy will be done. And He cometh 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



385 



again, and fiadetb them sleeping ; for their eves 
were heavy. And leaving them He went again : 
and He prayed the third time saving the self- 
same word. Then He cometh to His disciples 
and saith to them: Sleep ye now and take your 
rest: behold the hour is at hand, and the Son 
of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sin- 
ners. Rise, let us go: behold he is at hand 
that will betray Me. And as He yet spoke, 
behold Judas, one of the twelve came, and with 
him a great multitude with swords and clubs, 
sent from the chief-priests and the ancients of 
the people. And he that betrayed Him, gave 
them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, 
that is He, hold Him fast. And forthwith com- 
ing to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi. And he 
kissed Him. And Jesus said to him : Friend, 
whereto art thou come? Then they came up, 
and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him. And, 
behold, one of them that were with Jesus, 
stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword : 
and striking the servant of the high-priest, cut 
off his ear. Then Jesus saith to him : Put up 
again thy sword into its place : For all that 
take the sword shall perish with the sword. 
Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, 
25 



386 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



and He will give Me presently more than twelve 
• legions of angels ? How then shall the scrip- 
tares be fulfilled, that so it must be done ? 

In that same hour Jesus said to the multi- 
tudes : You are come out as it were to a robber 
with swords and clubs to apprehend Me. I sat 
daily with you teaching in the temple, and you 
laid not hands on Me. Now all this was done, 
that the scriptures of the prophets might be ful- 
filled. Then the disciples all leaving Him, fled. 
But they holding Jesus led Him to Caiphas the 
high-priest, where the scribes and the ancients 
were assembled. And Peter followed Him afar 
off, even to the court of the high-priest. And 
going in, he sat with the servants, that he 
might see the end. And the chief-priests and 
the whole council sought false witness against 
Jesus, that they might put Him to death : and 
they found not, whereas many false witnesses 
had come in. And last of all there came two 
false witnesses, and they said : This man said, 
I am able to destroy the temple of God, and 
after three clays to rebuild it. And the high- 
priest rising up, said to Him : Answerest Thou 
nothing to the things which these witness against 
Thee ? But Jesus held His peace. And the 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 387 



high-priest said to Him: I adjure Thee by the 
living God, that Thou tell us if Thou be the 
Christ the Son of God. Jesus saith to him : 
Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say to you, 
hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting 
on the right hand of the power of God, and 
coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the 
high-priest rent his garments, saying : He hath 
blasphemed : what further need have we of wit- 
nesses ? Behold, now you have heard the blas- 
phemy ; what think you ? But they answering 
said : He is guilty of death. Then did they 
spit in His face and buffet Him, and others 
struck His face with the palms of their hands, 
saying : Prophesy unto us, 0 Christ ; who is 
he that struck Thee ? But Peter sat without 
in the court ; and there came to him a servant- 
maid, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the 
Galilean. But he denied before them all, say- 
ing: I know not what thou sayest. And as he 
went out of the gate, another maid saw him, 
and she saith to them that were there : This 
man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And 
again he denied with an oath : That I know 
not the man. And after a little while they 
came that stood by, and said to Peter: Surely 



388 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



thou also art cne of them; for even thy speech 
cloth discover thee. Then he began to curse 
and to swear that he knew not the man. And 
immediately the cock crew. And Peter re- 
membered the word of Jesus which He had 
said: Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny Me 
thrice. And going forth he wept bitterly. 

And when morning was come, all the chief- 
priests and ancients of the people took counsel 
against Jesus, that they might put Him to 
death. And they brought Him bound, and 
delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. 
Then Judas, who betrayed Him, seeing that 
He was condemned, repenting himself, brought 
back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief- 
priests and ancients, saying: I have sinned in 
betraying innocent blood. But they said: What 
is that to us? look thou to it. And casting 
down the pieces of silver in the temple he de- 
parted : and went and hanged himself with a 
halter. But the chief-priests having taken the 
pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put 
them into the corbona, because it is the price of 
blood. And after they had consulted together, 
they bought with them the potter's field, to be 
a burying-plaee for strangers. For this cause 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



389 



that field was called Haceldama, that is the 
field of blood, even to this day. Then was ful- 
filled that which was spoken by Jeremias the 
prophet, saying: "And they took the thirty 
pieces of silver, the price of Him that was 
prized, Whom they prized of the children of 
Israel. And they gave them unto the potter's 
field, as the Lord appointed to me." And Jesus 
stood before the governor, and the governor 
asked Him, saying: Art Thou the king of the 
Jews ? Jesus saith to him : Thou sayest it. 
And when He was accused by the chief-priests 
and ancients, He answered nothing. Then 
Pilate saith to Him : Dost not Thou hear how 
great testimonies they allege against Thee ? 
And He answered him not to any word: so 
that the governor wondered exceedingly. 

Now upon the solemn day the governor was 
accustomed to release to the people one pris- 
oner, whom they would. And he had then a 
notorious prisoner, that was called Barabbas. 
They therefore being gathered together, Pilate 
said: Whom will you that I release to you, 
Barabbas, or Jesus that is called Christ? For 
he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 
And as he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his 



390 THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 

wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing 
to do with that just man. For I have suffered 
many things this day in a dream because of 
Him. But the chief-priests and ancients per- 
suaded the .people, that they should ask Barab- 
bas, and make Jesus away. And the governor 
answering, said to them : Whether will you of 
the two to be released unto you? But they said, 
Barabbas. Pilate saith to them : What shall I 
do then with Jesus that is called Christ ? They 
say all : Let Him be crucified. The governor 
said to them : Why, what evil hath He done ? 
But they cried out the more, saying: Let Him 
be crucified. And Pilate seeing that he pre- 
vailed nothing: Ibut that rather a tumult was 
made : taking water, washed his hands before 
the people, saying : I am innocent of the blood 
of this just man: look you to it. And the whole 
people answering, said : His blood be upon us 
and upon our children. Then he released to 
them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, 
delivered Him unto them to be crucified. Then 
the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into 
the hall, gathered together unto Him the whole 
band ; and stripping Him, they put a scarlet 
cloak about Him. And platting a crown of 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



391 



thorns, they p at it upon His. head, and a reed 
in His right hand. And bowing the knee before 
Him, they mocked Him, saying: .Hail, king of 
the Jews. And spitting upon Him, they took 
the reed and struck His head, and after they 
had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from 
Him and put on Him His own garments, and 
led Him away to crucify Him. And going out 
they found a man of Gyrene, named Simon: 
him they forced to take up His cross. And 
they came to the place that is called Golgotha, 
which is the place of Calvary. And they gave 
Him wine to drink mingled with gall. And 
when He had tasted, He would not drink. And 
after they had crucified Him, they divided His 
garments : casting lots : that it might be ful- 
filled which was spoken by the prophet, saying : 
" They divided my garments among them ; and 
upon my vesture they cast lots." And they sat 
and watched Him. And they put over His 
head His cause, written : u This is Jesus the 
King of the Jews." Then were crucified with 
Him two thieves : one on the right hand, and 
one on the left. And they that passed by blas- 
phemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying : 
Yah, Thou that destroyest the temple of God, 



392 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



and in three clays dost rebuild it : save Thy 
own self: if Thou be the Son of God, come 
down from the cross. In like manner also the 
chief-priests with the scribes and ancients mock- 
ing, said: He saved others: Himself He cannot 
save : if He be the king of Israel, let Him now 
come down from the cross, and we will believe 
Him. He trusted in God : let Him now deliver 
Him if He will have Him ; for He said: J am 
the Son of God. And the self-same thing the 
thieves also, that were crucified w T ith Him, re- 
proached Him with. Now from the sixth hour 
there was darkness over the whole earth, until 
the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour 
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying : Eli, Eli, 
lamma sabacthani ? that is, My God, My God, 
why hast Thou forsaken Me ? And some that 
stood there and heard, said : This man calleth 
Elias. And immediately one of them running 
took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar; and 
put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink. And 
the others said : Let be., let us see w r hether Elias 
will come to deliver Him And Jesus again 
crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 
(Here all kneel and pause.) 



THE PASSION OF OUR LORD, 



393 



And behold the veil of the temple was rent 
in two from the top even to the bottom, and the 
earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. And 
the graves were opened, and many bodies of the 
saints that had slept, arose, and coming out of 
the tombs after His resurrection, came into the 
holy city and appeared to many Now the cen- 
turion, and they that were with him watching 
Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things 
that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed 
this was the Son of God. And there were there 
many women afar off, who had followed Jesus 
from Galilee, ministering unto Him: among 
whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the 
mother of James and Joseph, and the mother 
of the sons of Zebedee. And when it was 
evening, there came a certain rich man of Ari- 
mathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a 
disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked 
the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded 
that the body should be delivered. And Joseph 
taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen 
cloth, and laid it in his own new monument 
which he had hewed out in a rock. And he 
rolled a great stone to the door of the monu- 



394 THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. 



ment and went his way. And there was there 
Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, sitting 
over against the sepulchre. 

Here the priest goes to the middle of the altar, and 
says, Cleanse my heart, &c., having said which, he 
resumes the Gospel, as follows : — 

And the next day, which followed the day of 
preparation, the chief-priests and the Pharisees 
came together to Pilate, saying: Sir, we have 
remembered that that seducer said, while he was 
yet alive: After three days I will rise again. 
Command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded 
until the third day : lest perhaps His disciples 
come and steal Him away, and say to the people, 
He is risen from the dead : and the last error 
shall be worse than the first. Pilate said to 
them : You have a guard ; go, guard it as you 
know. And they departing, made the sepulchre 
sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE HOLY GHOST. 



Yeni Creator. 

SPIRIT Creator of mankind, 
Come visit ev'ry pious mind, 
And sweetly let Thy grace invade, 
Our hearts, 0 Lord ! which Thou hast made. 

Thou art the Comforter whom all, 
Gift of the highest God, must call ; 
The living fountain, fire and love, 
The ghostly unction from above. 

God's sacred finger which imparts 
A sevenfold grace to faithful hearts'; 
Thou art the Father's promise whence 
We language have, and eloquence. 

Enlighten, Lord, our souls, and grant 
That we, Thy love may never want ; 
Let not our virtue ever fail, 
But strengthen what in flesh is frail. 

Chase from our minds the infernal foe, 
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow ; 
And lest our feet should step astray, 
Protect and guide us in the way. 

395 



896 



DEVOTIONS TO THE HOLY GHOST. 



Make us, eternal truths receive, 
And practise all that we believe ; 
Give us Thyself, that we may see 
The Father and the Son in Thee. 

Immortal honor, endless fame 
Attend th' Almighty Father's name ; 
To the Son, equal praises be, 
And, holy Paraclete, to Thee. Amen. 

Prayer to the Holy Ghost. 



SANCTIFIES of our souls! Thou 



V/ Spirit of love and truth ! I adore 
Thee as the principle of my eternal happi- 
ness ; I thank Thee as the dispenser of all 
heavenly favors ; and I invoke Thee as the 
source of that light and strength, bv which 
alone, I can know what is good, and be en- 
abled to practise it. Enlighten my under- 
standing, fortify my will, purify my heart, 
and make me attentive to all Thy inspira- 
tions. Pardon me, Thou Spirit of grace 
and mercy ! Pardon me my constant infi- 
delities, and the shameful insensibility with 
which I have so often resisted the most 




DEVOTIONS TO THE HOLY GHOST. 397 



touching impulses of grace. I am at length 
resolved to be no longer rebellious to it, but 
to obey it with such docility, that I may 
taste those fruits, and enjoy those beatitudes, 
which Thy sacred gifts can produce in our 
souls. Amen. 

Prayer to the Holy Ghost, to obtain 
Humility. 

HOLY Ghost ! Eternal love of the Fa- 
ther ! consoling Spirit ! Thou seest 
at Thy feet an abyss of misery. I have been 
conceived in sin ; my mind is so plunged in 
ignorance, that Thou alone canst dissipate it ; 
my heart is so overwhelmed in an ocean of 
corruption, that Thou alone canst fathom it, 
To the stain of my origin, I have added a 
thousand blots. Thou hast granted me Thv 
grace, but I have despised or abused it. 
Renew me in this grace, or deign to confirm 
me in it. Purify my heart, enlighten my 
mind, make me know myself, such as I am, 
that I may esteem myself at what I am 



898 DEVOTIONS TO THE HOLY GHOST. 

worth, and by that rne^ns arrive at the port 
of a happy eternity. I ask this inestimable 
grace through the merits of Jesus Christ, my 
Saviour and my God, Who liveth and reign- 
eth through ages of ages. Amen. 

Aspirations. 

COME, O Holy Ghost! enter into my 
soul, and" abide there forever, to be 
my light, my guide and my strength. 

Come, O Holy Ghost ! with all Thy gifts, 
and fill my soul ; enlighten, direct and con- 
duct me in all Thy ways; strengthen me 
against all the assaults of self-love ; remove 
from me all vicious shame, and inspire me 
with Christian courage. 

O ! grant that I may make the gospel 
the rule of my life. Preserve me from the 
corruption of sin, and from the pernicious 
maxims of the world. Give me grace, O 
God ! to do Thy will in all things. En- 
lighten my eyes, O Lord ! that I may never 
sleep in death. 



THE LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 399 



O uncreated fire ! when wilt Thou con- 
sume whatever is imperfect in my soul ! 
Inebriate my soul with Thy holy love, O 
Thou sovereign beauty ! 

Oh ! may I never forget the obligations 
that are contracted by being enlisted a dis- 
ciple of the cross, in the sacrament of con- 
firmation. 

Oh ! grant, that I may ever have before 
my eyes, the duties thereunto annexed, and 
that I may live henceforth, according to the 
spirit of a true and perfect Christian. 



The Litany of the Divine Providence. 

LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God the Father, Whose holy Providence 1 Eh 
governs all things, ■ J 

God the Son, Redeemer of mankind, 3 
God the Holy Ghost, f § 

Holy Trinity, one God, unchangeable ^ 
Providence, cT 



400 THE LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 



Divine Providence, Who dost govern all '* 
things in Heaven and earth, 

Divine Providence, Who dost give, pre- 
serve and govern our life, 

Divine Providence, the eternal love of man 
below and Angels above, 

Divine Providence, ever conformable to 
the influence of the tender Heart of 
Jesus, 

Divine Providence, Who Greatest, directest 
and governest all things with weight, 
measure and wisdom, 

Divine Providence, our hope, life and sal- 
vation, \. 

Divine Providence, defence and comfort of 
the afflicted, 

Divine Providence, guide and support of 
souls in all dangers, 

Divine Providence, Who dost provide us 
with, and impart to us all, natural and 
supernatural gifts, 

Divine Providence, inexhaustible treasury 
of the riches of Heaven, 

Divine Providence, protector and defence 
of the just, 

Divine Providence, safe retreat and sanc- 
tuary of the miserable, 



♦ 



THE LITANY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, 401 



Divine Providence, our resource in all ] 
wants, 

Divine Providence, our anchor in storms, 
Divine Providence, our security in danger, 

our way and secure haven, 
Divine Providence, remedy in all evils, 



[ o 

food to the hungry and fountain of re- 



freshing water to the thirsty, 
Divine Providence, raiment to the naked, 
strength to the weak, protector and 
mother to widows and orphans, 
Divine Providence, refuge of sinners, 
Providence of God, Who dost rule all things, 
infinitely deserving of our homage and adora- 
tion, spare us, 0 Lord ! 
Providence of God, Who dost protect and gov- 
ern all things, infinitely worthy of our homage 
and adoration, hear us, 0 Lord ! 
Providence of God, "Who didst create and dost 
know our weakness, infinitely above our hom- 
age and adoration, have mercy on us, 0 Lord ! 

f. We praise and adore Thee, Divine Provi- 
dence. 

Ji. We resign ourselves to Thy just and holy 
designs. 
26 



402 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED TRINITY. 

Let as Pray. 

ETERNAL God ! Whose eyes are over 
all Thy works, especially intent on 
Thy servants, vouchsafe to turn from us 
whatever is hurtful, and grant us whatever 
is advantageous, that through Thy favor and 
under the benign influence of Thy special 
Providence, we may securely pass through 
the transitory dangers and difficulties of this 
life, and happily arrive at the eternal joys of 
the other; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

Prayers to the Blessed Trinity. 

The Angelic Trisagion. 

One hundred days' Indulgence, once a day ; the 
same three times a day on Sunday and during the 
octave of the feast of the Holy Trinity. Plenary 
Indulgence once a month on the usual conditions. 

HOLY, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Hosts ! 
the earth is full of Thy glory. Glory 
be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory 
be to the Holy Ghost ! 



PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED TRINITY. 403 



Prayers and Petitions. 

Three hundred days' Indulgence, once a day. Ple- 
nary Indulgence once a month on the ordinary con- 
ditions. 

0 FATHER ! O Son ! O Holy Ghost ! 
O Holy Trinity ! O Jesus ! O Mary ! 
O ye blessed Angels of God ! 
O all ye Saints of Paradise, men and 
women, obtain for me these graces, which 
I ask through the precious blood of Jesus 
Christ: 

1. Ever to do the holy will of God. 

2. Ever to live in union with God. 

3. Never to think of any one but God. 

4. To love God alone. 

5. To do all for God. 

6. To seek alone God's glory. 

7. To sanctify myself for God alone. 

8. To know well my own utter nothing- 
ness. 

9. Ever to know more and more the will 
of my God. 

10 . 



404 PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED TRINITY. 



Mary most holy, offer to the Eternal Fa- 
ther, the most precious blood of Jesus Christ, 
for my poor soul, for the holy souls in Pur- 
gatory, for the wants of Holy Church, for 
the conversion of sinners, for all the world. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. (three times, 
in honor of the precious blood.) 

Hail Mary, &c, (in honor of the sorrows 
of Mary.) 

Eternal rest give unto them, &c, (for the 
souls in purgatory.) 

Three Offerings. 

Indulgence of one hundred days each time. Ple- 
nary Indulgence once a month, on the usual condi- 
tions. 

WE offer to the Most Holy Trinity the 
merits of Jesus Christ, in thanks- 
giving for the precious blood which Jesus 
shed in the garden for us; and by His 
merits, we beseech the divine Majesty to 
grant us the pardon of our sins. 
Pater, Ave, Gloria. 



PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED TRINITY. 405 

We offer to the Most Holy Trinity the 
merits of Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving for 
His most precious death endured on the 
cross for us ; and by His merits, we beseech 
the divine Majesty to grant us the pardon of 
all our sins. 

Pater, Ave, Gloria. 

We offer to the Most Holy Trinity the 
merits of Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving for 
His unspeakable charity, by which He des- 
cended from heaven to earth, to take upon 
Himself our flesh, and in it, to suffer and 
die upon the cross ; and by His merits, we 
beseech the divine Majesty to bring our souls 
to the glory of heaven after our death. 

Pater, Ave, Gloria. 



DEVOTIONS 

TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



Method of reciting the Chaplet of the 
Immaculate Conception. 

The Chaplet consists of three large and twelve small 
beads, the latter divided into fours by the former. 

I 

I THANK Thee, Eternal Father! for hav- 
ing by Thy Almighty power preserved 
Mary, most holy, Thy daughter from original 
sin. 

Our Father, &c., once. Hail Mary, &c. 
After each Hail Mary, " Blessed be the holy, 
most pure and Immaculate Conception of the 
Blessed Virgin Mary.^ (Indulgence of one 
hundred days each time, for this ejaculation. 

II. 

I THANK Thee, Eternal Son ! for having 
by Thy wisdom preserved Mary, most 
holy, Thy Mother, from original sin. 
Our Father, &c v as above. 
406 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 407 



III. 

I THANK Thee, Holy Ghost Eternal ! for 
having by Thy love, preserved Mary, 
most holy, Thy Spouse, from original sin. 

Our Father, &c., as before. (At the end, 
one Gloria, in honor of the purity of St. 
Joseph, Spouse of Mary, most holy.) 

Prayer to our Lady of Lourdes. 

OHOLY Mother of God ! Our Lady of 
Lourdes ! Behold us, Thy children, 
humbly prostrate before thee, lovingly ac- 
knowledging thy Immaculate Heart to be 
thaf fountain of living water flowing from 
Libanus, and from which came the precious 
stream that gushed forth for our salvation 
from the Heart of thy divine Son. 

Behold us, now come to that fountain, 
which healeth and bringeth back life, be- 
seeching thee, O Lady, to have pity on our 
moral and physical infirmities, and, if it be 
for the glory of God and the salvation of 



408 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



souls, deign to hearken to our prayers in 
behalf of thy afflicted servant, N. and 
through the all-healing water of Lourdes, 
give back to this the natural powers and 
faculties of body and mind. Amen. 

Our Father and Hail Mary, and : Lady 
of Lourdes, health of the sick, pray for us. 

Ejaculation. 

One hundred days' Indulgence each time. 

BLESSED be the Holy and Immaculate 
Conception of the Blessed Virgin 

Mary. 

Or, 

IN thy Conception, Mary, thou wast Im- 
maculate. Pray for us to the Eternal 
Father, Whose only-begotten Son, Jesus, 
thou didst bear conceived in thy womb by 
the Holy Ghost. 

Prayer of St. Gertrude. 

HAIL! Pure white Lily of the bright 
and ever peaceful Trinity ! Brilliant 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 409 



Rose of heavenly delight, of whom the King 
of Heaven deigned to be born, and with 
whose milk He deigned to be fed, feed our 
souls with infusions of divine grace. 



A Way or Asking Our Lady's Blessing. 

COME, O my soul ! prostrate thyself at 
the feet of Mary, and depart not till 
she has blessed thee. O blessed of God! and 
enriched with all blessings, in thy mercy and 
kindness, bless my afflicted soul, and obtain 
for me from thy beloved Son abundant grace, 
that I may so faithfully serve both Him and 
thee in this world, that 1 may be made par- 
taker of eternal glory. Amen. 

An Act op Consecration to the Sacred 
Heart of Mary. 

OHOLY Mother of God ! glorious Queen 
of Heaven and earth ! I choose thee 
this day for my mother, and my advocate at 
the throne of thy divine Son. Accept the 
offering I here make of my heart : may it be 



410 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



irrevocable. It never can be out of danger, 
whilst at my disposal ; never secure, but in 
thy hands. 

Ye choirs of Angels, witnesses of my obla- 
tion ! bear me up in the day of judgment, 
and next to Jesus and Mary, be ye propi- 
tious to me, should the enemy of my salva- 
tion have any claim upon me. Obtain for me 
at present, the gift of a true repentance, and 
those graces I may afterwards stand in need 
of, for the gaining of life everlasting. Amen. 



Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ, hear us. 

Christ, graciously hear us. 

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. 

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have 

mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 



Litany. 




ORD, have mercy on us. 
I Christ, have mercy on us. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



411 



Heart of Mary, 

Heart of Mary, according to the Heart of 
Jesus, 

Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of 
Jesus. 

Heart of Mary, organ of the Holy Ghost, 
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the divinity, 
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of a God incar- 
nate, 

Heart of Mary, always exempt from sin, 
Hearc of Mary, always full of grace, 
Heart of Mary, blessed amongst all hearts, 
Heart of Mary, illustrious throne of glory, 
Heart of Mary, abyss and prodigy of hu- 
mility, 

Heart of Mary, glorious holocaust of divine 
love. 

Heart of Mary, nailed to the cross of Jesus, 
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted, 
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners, 
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonizing, 
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy, 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, spare us, 0 Lord. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, hear us, 0 Lord. 



412 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 

world, have mercy on us. 

~^f. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God, 

That we may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 

Let us Pray. 

SWEET Jesus ! Who tenderly lovest the 
most holy of virgins, and art recipro- 
cally most tenderly loved by her ; grant, we 
beseech Thee, through the intercession of 
Thy most holy Mother, and by the resem- 
blance her most holy heart bore to Thine, 
that we may ever return due love and affec- 
tion for her care and tenderness in our re- 
gard : Who, with the Father and the Holy 
Ghost, livest and reignest, world without 
end. Amen. 

Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Indulgence of 60 days, once a day. If said daily, 
Plenary Indulgence on the feasts of the Nativity of 
B. V. M., the Assumption and Sacred Heart of Mary, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 413 



provided those who say the prayer visit a church or 
altar dedicated to Mary, and fulfil the other ordi- 
nary conditions. Plenary Indulgence at the hour of 
death. 

HEART of Mary, Mother of God, our 
Mother, Heart most amiable, delight 
of the ever adorable Trinity, worthy of all 
the veneration and tenderness of angels and 
of men ; Heart most like the Heart of Jesus, 
Whose most perfect image thou art; Heart 
full of goodness, ever compassionate towards 
our miseries, vouchsafe to thaw our icy hearts, 
and change them to the likeness of the Heart 
of Jesus. Infuse into them the love of thy 
virtues, inflame them with that blessed fire 
with which thou dost ever burn. In thee, 
let the Holy Church find safe shelter; be 
thou its guardian, and its ever sweet asylum, 
its tower of strength, impregnable against 
the inroads of its enemies. Be thou the road, 
leading to Jesus ; be thou the channel where- 
by we receive all graces needful for our sal- 
vation. Be thou our help in need, our com- 
fort in trouble, our strength in temptation, 



414 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



our refuge in persecution, our aid in dangers ; 
but most in the last struggle of our life, at 
the moment of death, when all hell shall be 
unchained against us to snatch away our 
souls; in that dread moment, that hour so 
terrible, whereon hangs our endless doom, 
ah ! then, most tender Virgin, do thou make 
us sensible how great is the sweetness of thy 
Mother's Heart, and the power of thy might 
w T ith Jesus' Heart, opening to us in the very 
fount of mercy itself, a safe refuge, that so 
one day we too may join with thee in Para- 
dise, in praising Jesus' Heart for ever and 
ever. Amen. 

Ejaculation. 

Indulgence of three hundred days each time. Ple- 
nary Indulgence once a month, on the ordinary con- 
ditions. 




SWEETEST Heart of Mary, be my 
salvation. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 415 



Three Prayers with Three "Ave Maria." 

Indulgence of one hundred days each time. Ple- 
nary Indulgence once a month, on the usual condi- 
tions. 

I. 

HOLIEST Virgin, with my whole heart 
I worship thee above all angels and 
saints in Paradise. Daughter of the Eternal 
Father, to thee I consecrate my soul and all 
its powers. Hail Mary, &e. 

II. 

HOLIEST Virgin, with my whole heart 
I worship thee above all the angels 
and saints in Paradise. Mother of the only- 
begotten Son, to thee I consecrate my body 
with all its senses. Hail Mary, &c. 

III. 

HOLIEST Virgin, with my whole heart 
I worship thee above all angels and 
saints in Paradise. Spouse of the ' Holy 
Ghost, to thee I consecrate my heart and 



416 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

all its affections, praying thee to gain for me 
from the ever-blessed Trinity all the means 
I need for my salvation. Hail Mary, &c. 

Prayer to the B. V. and to St. Anne. 

i 

One hundred days' Indulgence each time. Plenary 
Indulgence on the feast of St. Anne if said ten times 
a month for a year, on the usual conditions. 

HAIL to thee, Mary, full of grace, the 
Lord is with thee ! be thy grace with 
me. Blessed art thou among women, and 
blessed be holy Anne, thy mother, from 
whom, O Virgin Mary, thou didst come 
forth stainless and sinless ; then of thee was 
born Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. 

Amen. 

Prayer to the Holy Name of Mary. 

(Thomas A'Kempis.) 

HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is 
with thee ! Hail ! Plope of the in- 
digent, Mother of the motherless, O Mary, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 417 

when my wounded heart groans in distress ; 
when my soul is wrapped in sadness and 
fear; when temptations assail me, and the 
storm of passions breaks forth in my heart ; 
when my sins have closed the gates of hea- 
ven against me, and have robbed me of the 
friendship of my God ; in the dread hour 
of anguish and tribulation, on whom shall 
I call, if not on thy blessed name, O Mary, 
comforter of the afflicted and refuge of sin- 
ners? 

♦ 

O Mary ! thou art truly that beautiful 
Star of the sea, saving all those who, in 
peril raise their eyes to thee. Come then 
to my assistance, most merciful Mother of 
God ; I run to thee with the confidence of a 
little child who seeks refuge in his mother's 
arms. Open thine to me ; let me find a 
safe asylum in thy heart; tell me that thou 
art my advocate, that thou wilt intercede for 
me; comfort me, as a mother comforts her 
child, and I will fear nothing; peace will 
return to my weary soul. Come, O Mary ! 
come with the sweetness which always ac- 
27 



418 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

companies thee, to visit me in my sorrows. 
Come to renew my courage and to bring me 
the grace of Jesus. 

O Mother full of mercy ! scarcely have I 
confided my troubles to thee, when I already 
feel consoled. Thy name alone is balm to 
my wounds. 

O Name of Mary ! name full of grace, 
name that all lips should pronounce with 
love, name that all hearts should bless, an- 
gelical, heavenly name, be my strength and 
my consolation amid all the terrors of the 
future. With the adorable name of Jesus, 
may the name of Mary be the last I shall 
pronounce on earth. Amen. 

Seven times "Ave Maria" and five times 
, " Sancta Mater," &c. 

Three hundred days' Indulgence once a day. Ple- 
nary Indulgence once a month, on the usual condi- 
tions. After each Ave Maria say : 

HOLY Mother, pierce me through, 
In my heart, each wound renew, 
Of my Saviour crucified. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 419 



Short Prayer to the B. Y. M. in her Deso- 
lation. 

One hundred days' Indulgence each time. 

HAIL Mary, full of sorrows, the Cruci- 
fied is with Thee ; tearful is the fruit 
of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother 
of the Crucified, give tears to us, crucifiers 
of Thy Son, now and at the hour of our 
death. Amen. 

Exeycise in Honor of the Sorrowful Heart of 

Mary. 

Indulgence of three hundred davs, each time. 

T^. O God ! come to my assistance. 
JJr. O Lord ! make haste to help me. 
Glory be to the Father, &c. 

I. 

I COMPASSIONATE thee, sorrowing 
Mother, in the grief thy tender heart 
underwent when the holy old man Simeon 
prophesied to thee. Dear Mother, by the 
griefs of thy heart then so wounded, obtain 



420 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



for me the virtue of humility and the gift of 
holy fear of God. Hail Mary, &c. 

II. 

I compassionate thee, sorrowing Mother, 
for the anxiety which thy heart so sensitive 
underwent in the flight and sojourn in Egypt. 
Dear Mother, by thy heart then so sorrow- 
fulj obtain for me the virtue of liberality, 
specially towards the poor, and the gift of 
piety. Hail Mary, &c* 

III. 

I compassionate thee, sorrowing Mary, for 
the terrors felt by thy anxious heart when 
thou didst lose thy dear Son Jesus. Dear 
Mother, by thy heart then so agitated, obtain 
for me the virtue of holy chastity, and with 
it the gift of knowledge. Mail Mary, &c. 

iy. 

I compassionate thee, sorrowing Mary, for 
the shock thy Mother's heart experienced 
when Jesus met thee as He carried His 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 421 



cross. Pear Mother, by that loving heart 
of thine, then so afflicted, obtain for me the 
virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. 
Hail Mary, &c. 

V. 

I compassionate thee, sorrowing Mary, for 
the martyrdom thy generous heart bore so 
nobly whilst thou didst stand by Jesus ago- 
nizing. Dear Mother, by thy heart then so 
martyred, obtain for me the virtue of temper- 
ance and the gift of counsel. Hail Mary, &c. 

VI. 

I compassionate thee, sorrowing Mary, for 
the wound with which thy tender heart was 
riven when Jesus* sacred Side was cleft with 
the lance. Dear Mother, by thy heart then 
pierced through, obtain for me the virtue of 
fraternal charity and the gift of understand- 
ing. Hail Mary, &c. 

VII. 

I compassionate thee, sorrowing Mary, for 
the anguish felt by thy loving heart, when 



422 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



Jesus' Body was buried in the grave. Dear 
Mother, by all the bitterness of desolation 
thou didst then know, obtain for me the 
virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. 
Hail Mary, &e. 

^f. Pray for us Virgin most sorrowful. 
That w T e may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 

Let us Pray. 

GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus 
Christ ! that the most blessed Virgin 
Mary, Thy Mother, may intercede for us 
before the throne of Thy mercy, now and at 
the hour of our death, through whose most 
holy soul in the hour of Thine own Pas- 
sion, the sword of sorrow passed. Through 
Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world,- 
Who livest and reignest with the Father 
and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

Prayer to the Mother of Sorrows. 

OMARY ! I am the cause of thy suffer- 
ings. O refuge of sinners ! let me 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



423 



share in those bitter pangs which rent thy 
tender soul when thou didst behold thy Son 
covered with wounds and fainting under the 
cross. Mother of Sorrows, let me feel the 
force of thy grief, that, together with thee, I 
may mingle my tears with the blood of thy 
Son. O suffering Jesus! by Thy bitter pas- 
sion, and the deep anguish of Thy afflicted 
Mother, grant me the grace of perseverance. 
Mother of Jesus intercede for me ! Jesus, 
look down upon me with an eye of pity; 
and, in the hour of my death, receive me 
into Thy arms. Amen. 



Stabat Mater. 



STABAT MAT EE dolor- 
osa 

Juxta crucem lacrymosa, 
Dum pendebat Filius, 
Cujus animam gementem 
Contristatem, et dolentem, 
Pertransivit gladius. 



AT the cross her station 
keeping, 
Stood the mournful Mother 
weeping, 
Close to Jesus to the last. 
Through her heart His sor- 
row sharing, 
All this bitter anguish bear- 
ing, 

Now at length the sword 
had passed. 



424 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



0 quam tristis et afflicta 
Fuit ilia benedicta 
Mater Unigeniti. 
Quae mcerebat, et dolebat, 
Pia Mater, dum videbat 
Nati poenas inclyti. 



Oh, how sad and sore dis- 
tressed 

"Was that Mother highly 
blest 

Of the Sole-begotten One ! 
Christ above in torment 
hangs 

She beneath beholds the 
pangs 

Of her dying glorious Son. 



Quis est homo qui non fleret, 
Matrem Christi si videret 

In tanto supplicio ? 
Quis non posset contristari, 
Christi Matrem contemplari 

Dolentem cum Filio. 



Is there one who would not 
weep 

Whelm'd in miseries so deep 
Christ's dear Mother to 
behold. 
Can the human heart re- 
frain 

From partaking in her pain, 
In that Mother's pain un- 
told. 



Pro peccatis suse gentis 
Vidit Jesus in tormentis, 

Et flagellis subditum. 
Vidit suum dulcem natum 
Moriendo desolatum 

Dum emisit spiritum. 



Bruised, derided, cursed, de- 
filed, 

She beheld her tender Child 
All with bloody scourges 
rent ; 

For the sins of His own na- 
tion, 

Saw Him hang in desolation 
Till His spirit forth He 
sent. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 425 



E ia Mater, fons amoris, 0 thou Mother, fount of love, 

Touch my spirit from above; 
Make my heart with thine 
accord ; 
Make me feel as thou hast 
felt, 

Make my soul to glow and 
melt 

With the love of Christ 
my Lord. 



Me sentire vim doloris 

Fac, ut tecum lugeam. 
Fac ut ardeat cor meum 
In amando Christum Deum, 
Ut sibi complaceam. 



Sancta Mater, istud agas, 
Crucifixi fige plagas, 

Corde meo valide. 
Tui nati vulnerati, 
Tarn dignati, pro me pati, 

Pcenas mecum divide. 



Fac me tecum pie ffere, 
Crucifixo condolere, 

Donee ego vixero. 
Juxta crucem tecum stare, 
Et tibi me sociare 

In planctu desidero. 



Holy Mother, pierce me 

through ; 
In my heart each wound 

renew 

Of my Saviour crucified. 
Let me share with thee His 
pain, 

"Who for all my sins was 
slain, 

Who for me in torments 
died. 

Let me mingle tears with 
thee, 

Mourning him who mourn'd 
for me, 
All the days that I may 
live. 

By the cross with thee to 
stay, 

There with thee to weep 
and pray, 
Is all I ask of thee to give. 



426 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



Virgo virginum prseclara, 
Mihi jam non sis amara ,* 

Fac me tecum plangere. 
Fac ut portem Christi mor- 
tem, 

Passionis fac consortem, 
Et plagas recolere. 

Fac me plagis vulnerari, 
Fac me cruce inebriari, 

Et cruore Filii. 
Flammis ne urar succensus, 
Per te Virgo, sim defensus 

In die judicii. 



Christe, cum sit hinc exire 
Da per Matrem me venire 

Ad pal mam victorise. 
Quando corpus morietur 
Fac ut animae donetur 

Paradisi gloria. 

Amen. 



Virgin of all virgins best, 
Listen to my fond request ; 
Let me share thy grief 
divine 

Let me, to my latest breath, 
In my body bear the death 
Of that dying Son of thine. 

Wounded with His every 

wound, 
Steep my soul till it hath 

swooned 
In His very blood away. 
Be to me, 0 Virgin, nigh. 
Lest in flames I burn and 

die, 

In His awful judgment- 
day. 

Christ, when Thou shalt 

call me hence, 
Be Thy Mother my defence. 

Be Thy cross my victory. 
While my body here decays, 
May my soul Thy goodness 
praise, 
Safe in Paradise with 
Thee. 

Amen, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 427 



A Novena ; or Xine Days' Devotion to the 
Ever Blessed Virgin. 

Having, out of devotion, lighted a candle, either 
in your private oratory, or in the church, recite each 
day the following prayer. The intent is for obtain- 
ing some particular favor. 

TNCOMPARABLE Virgin! chosen by 
JL the ever adorable Trinity, from all 
eternity, to be the most pure Mother of 
Jesus, allow thy servant to remind thee of 
the joy thou receivedst in the instant of the 
most sacred Incarnation of our divine Lord, 
and during the nine months thou carriedst 
Him in thy most chaste womb. Oh! that 
I could but renew, or, if possible, increase 
this thy joy by the fervor of my prayers. 
Most tender Mother of the afflicted ! grant 
me, in my present necessities, those mater- 
nal consolations and that peculiar protec- 
tion, thou hast promised to those who shall 
devoutly commemorate this ineffable joy. — 
Relying on thy sacred word, and trustiug in 
thy promise, I humbly entreat thee to obtain 



428 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



from Jesus Christ, thy dearly beloved Son, 
my request. Having specified it, say : May 
this light I burn before thy image, stand as 
a memorial of the lively confidence I repose 
in thy bounty. May it be consumed in 
honor of that inflamed and supernatural love 
and joy, with which thy Sacred Heart was 
replenished during the abode of thy blessed 
Son in thy womb, in veneration of which I 
offer to thee the sentiments of my heart, and 
the following salutations. 



Prayer. 

MOTHER of my God ! to thee I offer 
these Hail Marys : they are so many 
brilliant jewels in the diadem of thy acci- 
dental glory, which will remain increasing 
to the end of the world. I beseech thee, 
comfort of the afflicted, by the joy thou 
receivedst in the submission and obedience 
of thy Son, to comfort my afflicted heart, 
and to obtain of Him for me a favorable 
answer to the petition I make to thy com- 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 429 



passionate mercy and benevolence. To this 
effect I offer to thee all the good works that 
have ever been performed in the confraterni- 
ties of thy Sacred Heart, and other associa- 
tions in thy honor. I most humbly entreat 
thee, on this consideration, and for the love 
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with which 
thy own was ever so enflamed, to hear my 
humble suit, and grant my request. Amen. 



The Reparation or Honor. 

OTHER of God ! whose sanctity and 
sublime merits surpass the compre- 
hension even of the Angels themselves, how 
great is the maternal tenderness of thy heart 
towards mankind ! How great thy favors ! 
How unworthy our acknowledgment, our 
gratitude, our return ! My very soul is 
penetrated with grief at the consideration of 
the many injuries thou receivest from infi- 
dels and wicked Christians, by the execrable 
blasphemies vomited out against thy mater- 
nal virginity, sanctity and integrity, but 




430 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

especially at the anguish with which those 
sinners load thee, who, heaping sin upon sin 
against thy divine Son, draw down ven- 
geance and damnation on their own souls; 
all which stand in direct opposition to thy 
tender love and compassion. Thus affected, 
and upon this consideration, I throw myself 
at thy feet, and though the greatest of sin- 
ners, most unworthy of and least correspond- 
ing with the graces I have received, I here 
enter my protest against such unwarrantable 
proceedings, and beseech thee, O Virgin, 
more than martyr ! to accept the same, as 
a reparation of honor. Obtain pardon for 
my past offences and indignities, and those 
of all mankind. May we, sinners that we 
are, become sensible of the favors thou hast 
obtained for us ; and being truly contrite for 
the past, may we, by thy aid and assistance, 
breaking the chains of our former thraldom 
and slavery, live henceforward in thy favor, 
and in the happy liberty of the children of 
God. May this our act and deed, O Saviour 
of the world ! as we can do nothing more 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 431 



agreeable to thee than to testify our love and 
gratitude to thy blessed Mother, be approved 
and confirmed by thy blessing and authority. 

Amen. 

The Thirty Days' Prayer to the Blessed 
Virgin Mary. 

In Honor of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

It is particularly recommended as a proper devo- 
tion for every day in Lent, and all the Fridays 
throughout the year. 

EVER-GLORIOUS and blessed Mary, 
Queen of Virgins, Mother of mercy, 
hope and comfort of dejected and desolate 
souls ; through that sword of sorrow which 
pierced thy tender heart, while thine only 
Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, suffered death 
and ignominy on the cross; through that 
filial tenderness and pure love He had for 
thee, grieving in thy grief, while from His 
cross He recommended thee to the care and 
protection of His beloved disciple St. John ; 
take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and 



432 DEVOTIONS- TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

necessities; have compassion on my anxieties 
and cares ; assist and comfort me in all my 
infirmities and miseries, of what kind soever. 
Thou art the Mother of mercies, the sweet 
comforter and only refuge of the needy and 
the orphan, of the desolate and the afflicted. 
Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable 
and forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; 
for, since in just punishment of my sins, I 
find myself encompassed by a multitude of 
evils, and oppressed with much anguish of 
spirit, whither can I fly for more secure 
shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and 
Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings 
of thy maternal protection? Attend, there- 
fore, I beseech thee, w 7 ith pity and compas- 
sion, to my humble and earnest request. I 
ask it through the bowels of mercy of thy 
dear Son ; through that love and condescen- 
sion wherewith He embraced our nature, 
when, in compliance with the divine will, 
thou gavest thy consent, and Whom, after 
the expiration of nine months, thou didst 
bring forth from the chaste enclosure of 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 433 

thy womb, to visit this world, and bless 
it with His presence. I ask it through 
that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved 
Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on 
Mount Olivet, when He besought His eter- 
nal Father to remove from Him, if possible, 
the bitter chalice of His future passion. I 
ask it through the threefold repetition of His 
prayer in the garden, whence afterwards, 
with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou 
didst accompany Him to the theatre of His 
death and sufferings. I ask it through the 
stripes and bruises of His virginal flesh, oc- 
casioned by the cords and whips wherewith 
He was bound and scourged, when stripped 
of His seamless garment, for which His 
executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it 
through the scoffs and ignominies by which 
He was insulted ; the false accusations and 
unjust sentence by which He was condemned 
to death, and which He bore with heavenly 
patience. I ask it through His bitter tears 
and bloody sweat, His silence and resig- 
nation, His sadness and grief of heart. 
28 



434 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



I ask it through the blood which trickled 
from His royal and sacred head, when 
struck with His sceptre of a reed, and 
pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask 
it through the excruciating torments He 
suffered, when His hands and feet were 
fastened with gross nails to the tree of the 
cross. I ask it through His vehement thirst 
and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask 
it through His dereliction of the cross, when 
He exclaimed, " My God! My God! why 
hast Thou forsaken Me ? " I ask it through 
His mercy extended to the good thief, and 
through His recommending His precious soul 
into the hands of His eternal Father, before 
He expired, saying: " All is consummated." 
I. ask it through the blood mixed with water, 
which issued from His sacred side, when 
pierced with a lance, whence also a flood of 
grace and mercy has flowed to us, I ask it 
through His immaculate life, bitter passion 
and ignominious death on the cross, at which 
nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by 
the bursting of rocks, the rending of the veil 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 435 



of the temple, the earthquake, and the dark- 
ness of the sun and moon. I ask it through 
His descent into hell, where He comforted 
the Saints of the Old Law with His pres- 
ence, and led captivity captive. I ask it 
through His glorious victory over death, 
when He rose again to life on the third day, 
and through the joy which His appearance 
for forty days after gave thee, His blessed 
Mother, His apostles, and the rest of His 
disciples, when, in thine and their presence, 
He miraculously ascended into heaven. I 
- ask it through the grace of the Holy Ghost, 
infused into the hearts of the disciples, when 
He descended upon them in the form of fiery 
tongues, by which they were inspired with 
zeal for the conversion of the world. I ask 
it through the awful appearance of thy Son, 
at the last dreadful day, when He shall come 
to judge the living and the dead, and the 
world by fire. I ask it through the com- 
passion He bore thee in this life, and the 
ineffable joy thou didst feel at thine assump- 
tion into heaven, where thou art eternally 



436 DEVOTIONS TO TIIE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His 
divine perfections." O glorious and ever- 
Blessed Virgin ! comfort the heart of thy 

suppliant, by obtaining for me .* As I 

am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honor 
thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He can 
refuse nothing, so let me speedily experience 
the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, ac- 
cording to the tenderness of thy maternal 
affection, and His filial loving heart, who 
mercifully granteth the requests, and com- 
plieth with the desires of those that love and 
fear Him. O most Blessed Virgin ! besides . 
the object of my present petition, and what- 
soever else I may stand in need of, obtain for 
me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our 
God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity 
true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of 
compunction, sincere confession, condign sat- 
isfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and 
my neighbor, contempt cf the world, patience 
to suffer affronts and ignominies ; nay, even, 



* Here mention or reflect on your lawful request, with the 
reservation of its being agreeable to the will of God, Wh c 
sees whether it will contribute towards your spiritual good. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 437 



if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for 
the love of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of 
God ! perseverance in good works, perform- 
ance of good resolutions, mortification of self- 
will, a pious conversation through life, and 
at mv last moments, strong and sincere re- 

a/ ' O 

pentance, accompanied by such a lively and 
attentive presence of mind, as may enable me 
to receive the last sacraments of the Church 
worthily, and die in thy friendship and 
favor. Lastly, obtain, I beseech thee, for 
the souls of my parents, brethren, relations, 
and benefactors, both living and dead, life 
everlasting. Amen. 



Prayer to our Lady of Consolation. 

OMARY! most sweet, most amiable and 
most glorious, thy name cannot be 
uttered in the secret of the heart without 
inflaming it with thy love; and they who 
love thee cannot think of thee without feel- 
ing themselves animated to love thee more 
and more, and putting all their confidence 



438 DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 

in thee. O Mary ! O my Mother ! thou 
seest my trouble, look upon me with an eye 
of pity ; thou art the consolation of all who 
call upon thee in affliction, be thou, then, 
mine. Hearken to the sighs, graciously hear 
the prayers of my poor heart; forsake me not, 
but support me in affliction, and strengthen 
me in danger. Thou art the heavenly dew 
that sweetenest our sorrows ; O Mother of 
consolation, I pray thee, sweeten mine ; give 
peace to my soul, grant me all that thou 
knowest I desire of thee; obtain for me, 
from thy divine Son, the pardon of all my 
sins, the grace to sin no more, the blessed- 
ness to imitate thy virtues all the rest of my 
life, and finally a holy and a happy death. 
At that tremendous hour, be thou my pro- 
tectress and my consolation, I beseech thee ; 
O my tender Mother ! come and receive my 
soul, to present it at the tribunal of the sov- 
ereign Judge, and to obtain for me a favora- 
ble sentence. I deserve not this at thv 
hands; but I am thy child. I love thee, 
and I desire to make thee loved by all 
hearts. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. JOSEPH. 



Memorare to St. Joseph. 

REMEMBER, O most powerful St. 
Joseph ! that, according to the testi- 
mony of St. Teresa, thy devoted client, it 
has never been known that any one who had 
recourse to thee, implored thy aid, or begged 
thy intercession, ever was abandoned. Filled 
and animated with the same confidence, I 
come to thee, O worthy Spouse of the blessed 
Virgin Mary ! to lay open to thee the desires 
of my heart, and to offer thee my fervent 
supplications. Reject not my prayer, but 
favorably hear me, a poor unworthy sinner, 
but still the child of Mary, thy immacu- 
late Spouse, and obtain for me, through the 
merits of Jesus Christ, the favor I ask of 
thee. 

Show thyself, O blessed St. Joseph ! truly 
my father, by obtaining of Jesus, the divine 
Son of Mary, this petition of thy humble 
servant and devout client. Amen. 

439 



440 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. JOSEPH. 



Novena to St. Joseph. 

O GLORIOUS descendant of the kings 
of Juda ! inheritor of the virtues of 
all the patriarchs ! just and happy St. Joseph ! 
listen to my prayer. Thou art my glorious 
protector, and shalt ever be, after Jesus and 
Mary, the object of my most profound ven- 
eration and tender confidence. Thou art the 
most hidden, though the greatest saint, and 
art peculiarly the patron of those who serve 
God with the greatest purity and fervor. In 
union with all those who have ever been 
most devoted to thee, I now dedicate myself 
to thy service ; beseeching thee, for the sake 
of Jesus Christ, Who vouchsafed to love and 
obey thee as a son, to become a father to me; 
and to obtain for me the filial respect, con- 
fidence and love of a child towards thee. O 
powerful advocate of all Christians ! whose 
intercession, as St. Teresa assures us, has 
never been found to fail, deign to intercede 
for me now, and to implore for me the par- 
ticular intention of this Novena. {Specify 
it) 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. JOSEPH, 



441 



Present me, O great Saint ! to the adorable 
Trinity, with Whom thou hadst so glorious 
and so intimate a correspondence. Obtain 
that I may never efface by sin the sacred 
image according to the likeness of which I 
was created. Beg for me, that my divine 
Redeemer would enkindle in my heart, and 
in all hearts, the fire of His love, and infuse * 
therein the virtue of His adorable infancy, 
His purity, simplicity, obedience and hu- 
mility. Obtain for me likewise a lively 
devotion to thy Virgin Spouse, and protect 
me so powerfully in life and death, that I 
may have the happiness of dying as thou 
didst, in the friendship of my Creator, and 
under the immediate protection of the Mother 
of God. 

Prayer to St. Joseph, Patron of the 
Church. 

Approved by His Holiness, Phis IX. 

GLORIOUS Patriarch St. Joseph, a voice 
of far greater authority, than that 
which once issued from the throne of Egypt, 



442 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. JOSEPH. 



lias lately directed the great Christian family 
to have recourse to thee in their necessities : 
Go to Joseph. Behold then, this widely-ex- 
tended family entrusted to thy care ; behold 
us all, prostrate before thy heavenly throne, 
imploring thy assistance in our present 
grievous afflictions. Like the brothers of the 
• ancient Joseph, we come to thee, humbled 
and confounded on account of our sins, which 
have called down upon us the anger of hea- 
ven. Yet in our midst there are also many 
innocent Benjamins, who suffer and grieve 
without any fault of their own. But our 
hearts are inexpressibly pained when we hear 
our venerable Father, like the gentle and 
pious Jacob, meekly lamenting that the last 
days of his life are filled with bitterness. 
Have pity on his gray hairs, and permit him 
not to close his eyes in the sleep of the just, 
before peace and safety have dawned upon 
his entire family. 

This, O great Saint! is the first favor 
which we ask of thee since thou hast been 
proclaimed our Universal Protector. Canst 
thou have the heart to refuse us ? Ah ! we 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. JOSEPH. 



443 



may well hope that the second Joseph will 
show even greater compassion than the first. 
Animated therefore with this confidence we 
repeat : Holy Joseph, pray for us. 

Salutation. 

HAIL ! Joseph, full of grace ! Jesus and 
Mary are with thee ; blessed art thou 
among men, and blessed is the fruit of thy 
Spouse, Jesus. Holy St. Joseph, pray for 
us sinners now and at the hour of our death. 

Amen. 

Prayer to St. Joseph. 

BLESSED St. Joseph, born to be the 
guardian of Jesus, the protector and 
consoler of Mary ! make powerful inter- 
cession for me, that my pious resolutions 
may not prove abortive ; that I may be born 
to an interior and spiritual life ; that I may 
have such an increase of sanctity, so ardent 
a love of purity, so great a conviction of my 
own vileness, so clear a light of the empti- 
ness and vanity of worldly grandeur, as to 
esteem and relish only things that are eternal. 
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c, &c. 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



A Prayer to St. Vincent op Paul. 

Composed by the Most Rev. M. J. Spalding when Bishop 
of Louisville , for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. 

BLESSED St. Vincent ! humbly prostrate 
before that throne, at which thoa art 
ever present, with all our hearts we implore 
thee, that thou wouldst not forget those, 
whose special patron thou art. Thou art 
safe in the port ; w T e are yet tossed about on 
the dangerous billows of life. In continual 
danger of shipwreck, we raise our hands and 
our hearts to thee. Oh ! take pity on us, 
and succor us by prayers, which God cannot 
fail to hear. Obtain for us true and deep 
humility of heart, that fully conscious of our 
weakness, we may place all our confidence in 
God alone. Obtain for us a portion of that 
divine charity with which thy heart was in- 
flamed on earth, and which fills it with a 
torrent of delights in heaven. Obtain for us 
444 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



445 



a spirit of prayer, which, by pervading all 
our daily actions, may keep us constantly 
united with God. Obtain for us, comfort 
in sadness, patience under suffering, consola- 
tion amid spiritual desolation, and persever- 
ance to the end in virtue. 

Thou art our Father ; we are thy Daugh- 
ters. Oh ! forget us not in our infirmities 
and necessities. We approach thee with the 
unbounded confidence of children. Oh ! lend 
a fatherly ear to our supplications. Procure 
for us a constant advancement in virtue, and 
the fulness of that religious spirit, which thou 
didst infuse into thy children while on earth. 
Obtain for us grace to eradicate our predomi- 
nant defects, and to acquire the virtue of 
which we stand most in need. And, O holy 
Father, obtain for us, we beseech thee, the 
happiness of being united with thee forever 
in. heaven. Amen. 

Salutation. 




AIL ! blessed Father, our Model, and 
our Guide, filled with the double ' 



446 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



spirit of humility and charity, true disciple 
of Jesus, meek and humble of heart ! Saint 
Vincent, pray for us who are thy children, 
now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

Prayer to St. Vincent to obtain Humility. 

O JESUS, meek and humble of heart! 
since only humble souls can give 
glory to Thy holy name, and the dwelling 
of Thy glory will be for ever shut against 
me, unless I become truly humble; grant 
me humility, which alone can merit Thy 
grace, and secure me a place in the eternal 
kingdom, Pardon* me, O my God ! the 
manifold sins, which I have committed 
through pride; and grant me a contempt 
for myself, proportioned to the pride which 
has so far enslaved me, but which I now 
detest so sincerely. I beg this favor through 
the intercession of our holy Father St. Vin- 
cent, who was truly meek and humble. 

Amen, 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



44t 



Prayer to Obtain the Love of God. 

MY Jesus! Thou hast declared that Thou 
didst come upon earth to bring the 
fire of divine love among men ; and that Thou 
wouldst have it enkindled in our hearts. — 
Would that all hearts, especially mine, were 
inflamed with this heavenly love ! Happy 
St. Vincent, whose heart was all on fire with 
this divine flame ! Oh! when and how shall 
I love my God with my whole heart, my 
whole soul and my whole strength ! It will 
be by constantly sacrificing all the inclina- 
tions of my corrupt nature, by an earnest 
desire of pleasing Him, by purifying my 
intentions, by perfect conformity to His 
adorable will, by sincere piety in all my 
religious exercises, by great devotion to the 
Sacrament of Love, by exact fidelity to my 
duties, and by faithfully keeping my holy 
rules and vows. 

Sweet Jesus! grant me a large share of 
divine charity, that I may truly love Thee 
here, and hereafter enjoy the great things 



448 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



Thou hast prepared for those that love 
Thee. Amen. 

Prayer to obtain the Love of our 
Neighbor. 

IOVING Jesus, the excess of Thy charity 
J prompted Thee to come down from 
heaven to assume a body subject to human 
miseries and infirmities, and to lay down 
Thy life for the salvation of man, that from 
Thy teaching and example, we might learn 
the imperative yet sweet duty to love our 
neighbor as ourselves, for God's sake; nay, 
to love our very enemies, and do good to 
them that hate us. Oh ! how sublime is this 
lesson of love ! It was from Thy Sacred 
Heart, my sweet Jesus, from that inexhaus- 
tible fountain of love, that our blessed Father 
St. Vincent drew the charity that animated 
him. He viewed the fatherless, the poor, and 
the afflicted as Thy members, Thy living 
images, redeemed by Thy precious blood. 
Grant, my loving Jesus, that animated by 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



449 



the same spirit of charity, I may truly love 
my fellow-creatures for Thy sake ; grant that 
mine may be a merciful and compassionate 
heart, that I may weep with those that weep, 
rejoice with those that rejoice, and make my- 
self all to all, that I may gain all to Thee, 
my Jesus. Oh ! may I never forget the holy 
precept ; " thou shalt love thy neighbor as 
thyself." 

Novena to St. Vincent of Paul. 

Come, O Holy Ghost, &c. 

Prayers on the Five Principal Virtues of 
the Saint. 

First. — Of Simplicity. 

O BLESSED St. Vincent! through that 
immortal glory which thou hast de- 
served to possess by thy admirable simplicity ; 
which, making thee an enemy to all disguise, 
caused thee to seek in all thy actions the 
sole glory and good pleasure of the divine 
Majesty ; we beseech thee to obtain for us 
29 



450 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



the greatest aversion for duplicity, with a 
tender love for rectitude and simplicity of 
heart in the divine service. 

Our Father, &c. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Second. — Of Humility. 

O BLESSED St. Vincent! through that 
crown of resplendent glory thou hast 
deserved in heaven by thy most profound 
humility; we beseech thee to obtain for us 
the grace of subduing our pride, and by the 
clear knowledge of our weakness and misery, 
of loving always, with sincerity of heart, 
contempts and humiliations, and of hating 
with the like sincerity all the honors and 
praises of men, seeking to gain the esteem 
of Him alone, whose judgments are to be 
dreaded. 

Our Father, &c. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



451 



TJiird. — Of Meekness. 




BLESSED St. Vincent ! by that admi- 
rable meekness which rendered thee 



amiable both to God and men ; and by which 
thou didst attract so many hardened and ob- 
stinate sinners into the way of salvation ; we 
beseech thee to obtain for us, that our hearts 
may ever be embalmed with charity, tender- 
ness and meekness towards our neighbor ; to 
the end that, by the charms of that virtue, 
we may draw every heart to the love of God 
and the observance of His most holy law. 

Our Father, &c. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Fourth. — Of Mortification. 

0 BLESSED St. Vincent! through the 
eminent merits which thou hast ac- 
quired, by the continual care and earnest 
diligence which thou hast used during the 
whole course of thy long life, in subduing 



452 DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 

and mortifying thy flesh with its concupis- 
cences ; in crucifying thy passions, thy senses 
and thy inclinations ; we beseech thee to ob- 
tain for us, that, after thy example, we may 
always carry the mortification of Jesus Christ 
in our mortal bodies, that we may be true 
lovers of sufferings, and that we may place 
all our consolation and all our glory in the 
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Our Father, &c. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Fifth.— Of Zeal 

O BLESSED St. Vincent ! whose life was 
wholly employed in zealously procur- 
ing the glory of God and the good of souls re- 
deemed by the blood of our Saviour, through 
that immense multitude of souls saved by 
thy ministry, and who now surround the 
throne of thy glory in heaven ; we humbly 
beseech thee to obtain for us of the divine 
Majesty, an ardent, wise and active zeal, to 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 453 

procure, even, if necessary, at the expense of 
our lives, the greater glory of God and the 
salvation of souls, by all the means belonging 
to our state of life. 

Our Father, &c. 

Hail Mary, &c. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Litany of St. Yincent. 

LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. 
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have 

mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 
Holy Mary, 1 y 

St. Yincent of Paul, ! 3 

St. Yincent, who, from thy childhood, didst j ^ 
show the wisdom of old age, . j 9 



454 DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



St. Vincent, who, from thy infancy, hast 
had a compassionate and merciful heart, 

St. Vincent, who, like David, from an 
humble shepherd hast been chosen to 
be the pastor of the people of God, 

St. Vincent, who hast preserved a perfect 
liberty in the midst of thy captivity, 

St. Vincent, just man, living by faith, 

St. Vincent, securely supported by the firm 

• anchor of faith, 

St. Vincent, inflamed with the fire of 
charity, 

St. Vincent, truly simple, upright and fear- 
ing God, 

St. Vincent, faithful disciple of Jesus 
Christ, truly meek and humble of heart, 

St. Vincent, perfectly mortified in body 
and soul, 

St. Vincent, living by the spirit of Christ, 
St, Vincent, zealous promoter of the glory 
of God, 

St. Vincent, strenuous searcher and con- 
verter of souls, 

St. Vincent, who hast found in poverty the 
rich treasure of the gospel, 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 

St. Vincent, imitator of the chastity of ] 
Angels, 

St. Yincent, obedient man, speaking of I 
victories, 

St. Vincent, applied to labors from thy 
youth, 

Sr. Vincent, refraining from all appear- 
ance of evil, 

St. Vincent, studiously aspiring to perfect 
virtue, 

St. Vincent, immovable as a rock amidst 

the waves of this world, 
St. Vincent, constant in paths of wisdom i 

as the sun in its course, 
St. Vincent, most patient in every trial of 

adversity, 

St. Vincent, long suffering and plenteous 
in mercy, 

St. Vincent, most faithful son of the Roman 
Church, 

St. Vincent, inviolably attached until death 

to St. Peter's Chair, 
St. Vincent, most averse to profane novelty 

of words, 

St. Vincent, destined by Providence to 
preach the gospel to the poor, 



556 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



St. Vincent, most pious instructor and 
model of the Clergy, 

St. Vincent, wise founder of the Congre- 
gation of the Mission, 

St. Vincent, most prudent institutor of the 
Daughters of Charity, 

St. Vincent, most generous benefactor of 
the poor, . 

St. Vincent, continually addicted to prayer 

and the ministry of the word, 
St. Vincent, assiduous follower of the life 

and virtues of Jesus Christ, 
St. Vincent, who hast been faithful unto 

the end, 

St. Vincent, whose death was precious in 
the sight of the Lord, 

St. Vincent, now happy in the full enjoy- 
ment of truth, charity and eternity, 

St. Vincent, that, as faithful children, we 
may tread in the steps of our Father, 

Lamb of God, &c. 

"^ r . The Lord has conducted the just man by 

right ways. 

And He has shown him the kingdom of 

God. 



DEVOTIONS TO ST. VINCENT. 



55 T 



Let us Pray. 

OGOD, Who, to preach the gospel to the 
poor, to relieve the miseries of the 
forlorn, infirm and afflicted, and to promote 
the glory of the ecclesiastical order; hast 
renewed the Spirit of Thy Son, in the apos- 
tolic charity and humility of the Blessed 
Vincent of Paul ; grant us, by his interces- 
sion, that being delivered from the miseries 
of our sins, we may please Thee by the 
practice of the same humility and charity : 
through Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns 
with Thee in unity of the same Holy Spirit, 
world without end. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



The Litany op the Saints. 



A?ith. Kemember not, O Lord, our offences, nor 
those of our parents, and take not revenge of our 
sins. 



KYKIE eleison. 
Christe eleison. 



Kyrie eleison. 

Christe audi nos. 

Christe exaudi nos. 

Pater de coelis Deus, mis- 
erere nobis. 

Fili Kedemptor mundi 
Deus, miserere nobis. 

Spiritus Sancte Deus, mis- 
erere nobis. 

SanctaTrinitas unusDeus, 
miserere nobis. 

Sancta Maria, ora pro no- 
bis. 

Sancta Dei genitrix, 
Sancta Virgo virgi- 

num, 
Sancte Michael, 
Sancte Gabriel, 
Sancte Raphael, 
458 



LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on 
us. 

Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. 
God the Father of heaven, 

have mercy on us. 
God the Son, Redeemer of 

the world, have mercy 

on us. 

God the Holy Ghost, have 

mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, 

have mercy on us. 
Holy Mary, pray for us. 



Holy Mother of God, 
Holy Virgin of vir- 
gins, 
St. Michael, 
St. Gabriel, 
St. Raphael, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



4 



Omnes sancti Angeli et All ye holy Angels 

Archangeli, orate pro and Archangels, 
nobis. 

Omnes sancti beatorum All ye holy orders of 

Spin" turn ordines, orate, blessed Spirits, 
&c. 



Sancte Joannes Baptista, St, John the Baptist, 

Sancte Joseph, St. Joseph, 

Omnes sanctes patriarchs All ye holy patri- 



et prophets, orate 


pro 


archs and proph- 


nobis. 




ets, 


Sancte Petre, 




St, Peter, 


Sancte Paule, 




St. Paul, 


Sancte Andrea, 




St. Andrew, 


Sancte Jacobe, 




St. James, 


Sancte Joannes, 




St. John, 


Sancte Thoma, 


Ora 


St. Thomas, 


Sancte Jacobe, 


St. James, 


Sancte Philippe, 


pro n 


St. Philip, 


Sancte Bartholoma?e 


St. Bartholomew, 


Sancte Matthse, 


c£ 


St. Matthew, 


Sancte Simon, 




St. Simon, 


Sancte Thaddsee, 




St. Thaddeus, 


Sancte Mathia, 




St. Matthias, 


Sancte Barnaba, 




St. Barnaby, 


Sancte Luca, 




St. Luke, * 


Sancte Marce, 




St. Mark, 


Omnes sancti apostoli et 


All ye holy Apostles 


evangelists, orate 


pro 


and evangelists, 



nobis. 



460 DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



Omnessancti discipuli Do- 
mini, orate pro nobis. 

Omncs sancti Innocentes, 
orate pro nobis. 

Sancte Stephane, ora, &c. 

Sancte Laurente, ora, &c. 

Sancte Vincenti, ora, &c. 

Sancti Fabiane et 
Sebastiane, 

Sancti Joannes et 
Paule, 

Sancti Cosma et Da- 
miane, 

Sancti Gervasi et 
Protasi, 

Omnes sancti mar- 
tyres, 

Sancte Sylvester, 

Sancte Gregori, 

Sancte Ambrosi, 

Sancte Augustine, ^ 

Sancte Hieronyme, 

Sancte Martine, 

Sancte Nicolae, 

Omnes sancti pontifices et 
confessores, orate, &c. 

Omnes sancti doctores, 
orate, &c. 

Sancte Antoni, ora, &c. 

Sancte Benedicte, ora, &c. 



O 

go 

►a 

>-i 

C 

c 
cr 1 



All ye boly disciples 
of our Lord, 

All ye holy Inno- 
cents, 

St. Stephen, 

St. Lawrence, 

St. Yincent, 

SS. Fabian and Se- 
bastian, 

SS. Paul and John, 

SS. Cosmas and Da- 

mian, 
SS. Gervase and Pro- 

tase, 

All ye holy martyrs, 

St. Sylvester, 

St. Gregory, 

St. Ambrose, 

St. Augustine, 

St. Jerome, 

St. Martin, 

St. Nicholas, 

All ye holy bishops 

and confessors, 
All ye holy doctors, 

St. Anthony, 
St. Benedict, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



461 



Sancte Bernarde, ora, &c. 

Sancte Dominice, ora, &c. 

Sancte Francisce, ora, &c. 

Omnes sancte sacerdotes 
et Levita?, orate, &c. 

Omnes sancti nionachi et 
eremitse, orate, &c. 

Sancta Maria Mag- ~] 
dalena, 

Sancta Agatha, 

Sancta Lucia, 

Sancta Agnes, 

Sancta Csscilia, 

Sancta Catharina, 

Sancta Anastasia, 

Omnes sancta? virgines et 
vidua?, orate, &c. 

Omnes sancti et sancta? 
Dei, intercedite pro no- 
bis. 

Propitius esto, parce nobis. 

Dornine. 
Propitius esto, exaudi nos, 

Domine, 
Ab omni malo, libera nos, 

Domine, 
Ab omni peecato, 
Ab ira tua, 
A subitanea et im- 

provisa morte, 



St. Bernard, 

St. Dominic, 

St. Francis, 

All ye holy priests 

and Levites, 
All ye holy monks 

and hermits, 
St. Mary Magdalen, 



Bp 



St. Agatha, 

St. Lucy, 

St. Agnes, 

St. Cecily, 

St. Catharine, 

St. Anastasia, 

All ye holy virgins and 
widows, pray, &c. 

All ye men and women, 
Saints of God, make 
intercession for us. 

Be merciful unto us, spare 
us, 0 Lord. 

Be merciful unto us, gra- 
ciously hear us, O Lord. 

From all evil, O Lord de- 
liver us. 

From all sin, ] O 

From Thy wrath, ^ 

From a sudden and f & 
unprovided death. ^ 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



Ab insidiis diaboli, 

Ab ira, et odio, et 
omni mali volun- 
tate, 

A spiritu fornicatio- 
nis, 

A fulgure et tempes- 
tate, 

A morto perpetua, 

Per m ysterium sanc- 
tae incarnationis 
tua?, 

Per adventum tuum, 

Per nativitatem tu- 
am, 

Per baptismum et 

sanctum jejunium 

tuum, 
Per crucem et passio- 

nem tuam, 
Per mortem et se- 

pulturam tuam, 
Per sanctam resur- 

rectionem tuam, 
Per admirabilem as- 

censionem tuam. 



CO 

p 

o 



c 



From the deceits of * 

the devil, 
Prom anger, hatred, 

and ill-will, 

From the spirit of 
fornication, 

From lightning and 
tempest, 

From everlasting 
death, 

Through the mys- 
tery of Thy holy 
incarnation, 

Through Thy com- 
ing. 

Through Thy nativ- 
ity. 

Through Thy bap- 
tism and holy fast- 
ing* 

Through Thy cross 
and passion, 

Through Thy death 
and burial, 

Through Thy holy 
resurrection, 

Through Thy admi- 
rable ascension, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



463 



Per adventum Spiri- 
tus sancti Parac- 
liti, 

In die judicii, 



3- 



BP 
o 



Peccatores, te rogamus, 

audi nos, 
Ut nobis parcas, 
Ut nobis indulgeas, 
Ut ad veram pceni- 
tentiam nos per- 
ducere digneris, 
Ut Ecclesiam tuam 
sanctam regere et 
conservare digne- 
ris, 

Ut doinnum Aposto- 
licum et omnes ec- 
clesiasticos ordines 
in sancta reli°;ione 



conservare digne- 
ris, 

Ut inimicos sanctae 
Eeclesiae humili- 
are digneris, 

Ut regibus et prin- 
cipibus Christianis 
pacem et veram 
concordiam do- 
nare digneris, 



Through the coming 
of the Holy Ghost, 
the Comforter, 

In the day of judg- ^ 
ment, 

We sinners, do beseech 
Thee to hear us. 

That Thou spare us. 

That Thou pardon us, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to bring us to true 
penance, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to govern and pre- 
serve Thy Holy 
Church, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to preserve our 
apostolic prelate, 
and all ecclesiasti- 
cal orders in holy 
religion, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to humble the ene- 
mies of the holy 
Church, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to give peace and 
true concord to 
Christian kings 
and princes, 



CD 



464 DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



Ut cuncto populo 
Christiano pacem 
et unitatem largiri 
digneris, 

Ut nosmetipsos in 
tuo sancto servitio 
confortare et con- 
servare digneris, 

Ut mentes nostras 
ad co3lestia desid- j 
eria erigas, 

Ut omnibus bene- I 
factoribus nostris 
sempiterna bona 
retribuas, 

Ut animas nostras, 
fratrum propin- 
quorum, et bene- 
factorum nostro- 
rura, ab seterna 
damnatione eri- 
pias, 

Utfructus terrae dare 
et conservare dig- 
neris, 

Ut omnibus fidelibus 
defunctis requiem 
aeternam donare 
digneris, 



I ° 
1 n 

o 

1 



That Thou vouchsafe 
to grant peace and 
unity to all Chris- 
tian people, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to confirm and pre- 
serve us in Thy 
holy service, 

That Thou lift up 
our minds to hea- 
venly desires, 

That Thou render 
eternal good things 
to all our bene- 
factors, 

That Thou deliver ( 
our souls and those 
of our brethren, 
kinsfolks and bene- 
factors, from eter- 
nal damnation, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to give and pre- 
serve the fruits of 
the earth, 

That Thou vouchsafe 
to give eternal rest 
to all the faithful 
departed, 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



465 



Ut nos exaudire dig- "j 
neris, I & 

Fili Dei, J P 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec- 
cata mundi, parce no- 
bis Domine. 
Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec- 
cata mundi, exaudi nos 
Domine. 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec- 
cata mundi, miserere 
nobis, 

Christe, audi nos. Christe, 
exaudi nos. Kyrie elei- 
son. Christe eleison. 
Kyrie eleison. Pater 
noster, secreto. 

V~ Et ne nos inducas in 
tentationem. 

R. Sed libera nos a 
malo. 



That Thou vouchsafe "] > 
graciously to hear j ^ 

Son of God. J ? 

Lamb of God, Who takes t 
away the sins of the 
world, spare us, O Lord. 

Lamb of God, Who takest 
away the sins of the 
world, graciously hear 
us, O Lord. 

Lamb of God, Who takest 
away the sins of the 
world, have mercy on 
us. 

Christ, hear us. Christ, 
graciously hear us. 
Lord, have mercy on 
us. Christ, have mercy 
on us. Lord, have mer- 
cy on us. Our Father, 
(in an under tone.) 
V. And lead us not into 

temptation. 

R. But deliver us from 

evil. 



Psalm lxix. 



DET7S, in adjutorium A GOD, come to my as- 
meum intende : *Do- M sistance ; O Lord, 
30 



466 DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



mine, ad adjuvandum me 
festina. 

Confundantur et rever- 
eantur, * qui quaerunt ani- 
mam meam : 

Avertantur retrorsum, 
et erubescant, *qui vo- 
lant mihi mala : 

Avertantur statim eru- 
bescentes, * qui dicunt 
mihi : Euge, euge. 

Exultent et laatentur in 
te omnes qui quserunt te, 
* et dicant semper : Mag- 
nificetur Dominus ; qui 
diligunt salutare tuum. 

Ego vero egenus et pau- 
per sum: *Deus adjuva 
me. 

Adjutor meus et libera- 
tor meus es tu : * Domine 
ne moreris. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

V, Salvos fac servos 
tuos. 

R. Deus meus, speran- 
tes in te. 



make haste to help me. 

Let them be confounded 
and ashamed : * that seek 
my soul : 

Let them be turned 
backward, and blush for 
shame * that desire evils 
to me : 

Let them be presently 
turned away blushing for 
shame * that say to me : 
5 Tis well, 'tis well. 

Let all that seek Thee 
rejoice and be glad in 
Thee : * and let such as 
love Thy salvation say 
always : The Lord be mag- 
nified. 

But I am needy and 
poor: *0 God, help me. 

Thou art my helper and 
my deliverer : * O Lord, 
make no delay. 

Glory be to the Father, 
&c. 

V. Save thy servants. 

R. Trusting in Thee, O 
my God. 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



46T 



V. Esto nobis, Domine, 
turris fortitudinis. 
R. A facie inimici. 

V. Nihil proficiat ini- 
micus in nobis. 

R. Et filius iniquitates 
non apponat nocere nobis. 

V. Domine, non secun- 
dum peccata nostra facias 
nobis. 

R. Neque secundum in- 
iquitates nostras retribuas 
nobis. 

V. Oremus pro pontifice 
nostro N. 

R. Dominus conservet 
eum, et vivificet eum, et 
beatum faciat eum in 
terra, et non tradat eum 
in animan inimicorum 
ejus. 

V. Oremus pro bene- 
factoribus nostris. 

R. Eetribuere dignare 
Domine, omnibus nobis 
bona facientibus, propter 
nomen tuum, vitam aeter- 
nam. Amen. 



V, Be unto us, O Lord, 
a tower of strength. 

R. From the face of the 
enemy. 

V. Let not the enemy 
prevail against us at all. 

R. Nor the son of ini- 
quity have any power to 
hurt us. 

V: 0 Lord, deal not 
with us according to our 
sins. 

R. Neither reward us 
according to our iniquities. 

V. Let us pray for our 
chief bishop, N. 

R. The Lord preserve 
him and give him life, and 
make him blessed upon 
earth : and deliver him 
not to the will of his ene- 
mies. 

V. Let us pray for our 
benefactors. 

R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, 
for Thy name's sake, to 
reward with eternal life, 
all those who have done 
us good. Amen. 



468 DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



V. Oremus pro fidelibus 
defunctis. 

R. Requiem seternam 
dona eis, Domine : et lux 
perpetua luceat eis. 

V. Requiescant in pace. 

R. Amen. 

F. Pro fratribus nostris 
absentibus. 

R. Salvos fac servos 
tuos, Deus meus, sperantes 
in te. 

F. Mitte eis, Domine, 
auxilium de sancto. 

R. Et de Sion tuere eos. 

V. Domine, exaudi ora- 
tionem meam. 

R. Et clamor meus ad 
te veniat. 



V. Let us pray for the 
faithful departed. 

R. Eternal rest give 
them, O Lord ; and let 
perpetual light shine upon 
them. 

V. May they rest in 
peace. 

R. Amen. 

V. Eor our absent breth- 
ren. 

R. 0 my God, save Thy 
servants trusting in Thee. 

V. Send them help, O 
Lord, from Thy holy 
place. 

R. And from Sion pro- 
tect them. 

V. O Lord, hear my 
prayer. 

R. And let my cry come 
unto Thee. 



Let us Pray. 

OGOD! Whose property is always to have 
mercy and to spare, receive our petition ; 
that we, and alL Thy servants who are bound 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



469 



by the chains of sin, may, by the compassion of 
Thy goodness, be mercifully absolved. 

HEAR, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord ! the 
prayers of Thy suppliants, and pardon 
the sins of them that confess to Thee ; that, in 
Thy bounty, Thou mayest give us pardon and 
peace. 

OUT of Thy clemency, 0 Lord! show Thy 
unspeakable mercy to us ; that so Thou 
mayest both acquit us of our sins and deliver us 
from the punishments we deserve for them. 

OGOD! Who by sin art offended, and by 
penance pacified, mercifully regard the 
prayers of Thy people making supplication to 
Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thy anger 
which w r e deserve for our sins. 

O ALMIGHTY and Eternal God! have 
mercy on Thy servant, N., our chief 
bishop, and direct him according to Thy clem- 
ency, into the way. of everlasting salvation; that, 
by Thy grace, he may desire those things that 



470 DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



are agreeable to Thee, and perform them with 
all his strength. 

OGOD ! from Whom are all holy desires, 
right counsels and just works, give to 
Thy servants that peace which the world cannot 
give ; that our hearts may be disposed to keep 
Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies 
being removed, the times, by Thy protection, 
may be peaceable. 

INFLAME, 0 Lord! our reins and hearts 
with the fire of Thy holy spirit, that we 
may serve Thee with chaste bodies, and please 
Thee with clean hearts, 

OGOD ! the Creator and Redeemer of all 
the faithful, give to the souls of Thy ser- 
vants departed the remission of all their sins, 
that, through pious supplications, they may ob- 
tain the pardon which they have always desired. 

PROMPT, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord ! our 
actions by Thy holy inspirations, and 
carry them on by Thy gracious assistance ; that 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



471 



every prayer and work of ours may begin always 
from Thee, and by Thee be happily ended. 

0 ALMIGHTY and Eternal God! Who 
hast dominion over the living and the 
dead, and art merciful to all whom Thou fore- 
knowest shall be Thine by faith and good works ; 
we humbly beseech Thee, that they for whom 
we have determined to offer up our prayers, 
whether this world still detains them in the 
flesh, or the world to come has already received 
them out of their bodies, may, by the clemency 
of Thy goodness, all Thy Saints interceding for 
them, obtain pardon and full remission of all 
their sins: through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy 
Son, Who liveth and reigneth, one God with 
Thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. 

Amen. 

O Lord ! hear my prayer. 
And let my cry come unto Thee, 
y . May the Almighty and most merciful 
Lord graciously hear us. 
Amen 

T^. And. may the souls of the faithful de- 
parted, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 
Amen. 



472 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



Invocation to all the Saints. 

(St. Mechtildes.) 

OYE holy Patriarchs and Prophets! I salute 
you in the sweetest Heart of Jesus ; be- 
seeching you to deign to offer unto God for me 
the ardent desire you felt for the Incarnation of 
Jesus. 

O ye holy Apostles ! I salute you in the 
sweetest Heart of Jesus, beseeching you to 
deign to offer unto God for me that faithfulness 
and constancy wherewith you continued with 
Jesus in His temptations, and gathered unto 
Him a faithful people by your preaching. 

O ye holy Martyrs! I salute you in the 
sweetest Heart of Jesus, beseeching you to 
deign to offer unto God for me that patience 
with which you shed your blood for His love. 

0 ye holy Confessors! I salute you in the 
sweetest Heart of Jesus, beseeching you to 
deign to offer unto God for me that sanctity 
which shone forth in your w^ords and your 
example. 

0 ye holy Virgins ! I salute you in the sweet- 
est Heart of your divine Spouse, beseeching you 



DEVOTIONS TO THE SAINTS. 



473 



to deign to offer unto God for me that purity 
and chastity whereby you have merited to stand 
now so near to Jesus in heaven. 

0 all ye Saints of God ! I salute and venerate 
you all in the sweetest Heart of Jesus your 
Lord, and through it, I render thanks to God 
for all the good which has ever flowed forth 
from it for your salvation, beseeching you all in 
general, and each one of you in particular, to 
deign to offer unto God for me, a miserable 
sinner, all those virtues and perfections which 
render you most especially pleasing to God. 

Amen. 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



When the Clock strikes. 

BLESSED be the hour in which our Lord 
Jesus Christ was born, was crucified and 
died for our sins. 

Or: 

OMY God ! I love Thee with all my heart, 
give me grace never more to offend Thee, 
and to make good use of my precious time. 

Add: 




ESUS, Mary, Joseph, &c, and apply the 
Indulgences to the souls in Purgatory. 



Before Recreation, and before Paying or 
Receiving Visits. 

GRANT, 0 my God ! that my whole deport- 
ment may be such as becomes-a spouse 
of Jesus Christ ; close my heart against the 
spirit of the world, and against every sentiment 
that would be, in the least, displeasing to Thee ; 
4Y4 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



475 



teach me, Thyself, what I ought to say; pre- 
serve me, I beseech Thee, from offending Thee 
by my words. 

In Going to the Classes. 

ODITINE Jesus! I go in Thy name, and 
for Thy love. Give me Thy spirit, and 
teach me to instruct these Thy children, accord- 
ing to Thy will. 

Angels of those committed to my charge, 
come to my aid : protect and bless us. 

On Leaving the Class-rooms. 

ACCEPT, 0 my God! the duty I have just 
performed. Pardon the faults I com- 
mitted in it, and give my poor efforts success 
for the glory of Thy name. 

When Walking. 

DIYINE Jesus ! I unite all my steps with 
those Thou didst take for me ; I desire 
to unite them, especially with those Thou didst 
take during Thy bitter passion. 



47G 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



When you take up a Book. 

O FOUNTAIN of all light ! vouchsafe, I be- 
seech Thee, to enlighten my understand- 
ing: give ine a diligent and docile spirit, and 
an efficacious desire to apply whatever I read to 
the glory of God, the sanctification of my soul, 
and the salvation of others. 

After Reading. 




MY God ! foster the divine seed which 
Thou hast sown in my soul. 



Or: 

GRANT, 0 my Jesus ! that like Thy blessed 
Mother, I may keep all Thy words, pon- 
dering over them in my heart 

For the Prosperity of our Holy Religion. 

OMY God ! make Thy holy Church victori- 
ous over all her enemies, and preserve all 
her members in Thy heavenly peace and love. 

0 infinite Source of all perfection ! attract all 
hearts to Thyself, and fill them with Thy divine 
charity. 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



0 God of all ! have mercy on all — lift up 
Thy hand over the strange nations, that they 
may see Tfiy power ; that they may know 
Thee, as ive also have known TJiee. 

For the Pope. 

OGOD ! the Pastor and Governor of all the 
faithful, mercifully look down upon Thy 
servant, N., whom Thou hast been pleased to 
appoint the pastor of Thy Church ; grant, we 
beseech Thee, that both by word and example 
he may edify those over whom he is set; and 
together with the flock committed to his care; 
may attain everlasting life ; through, &c. 

For Bishops, and the People committed to 

THEM. 

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God! Who 
alone cloest great marvels, send down 
upon Thy servants, the Bishops of Thy Church, 
(especially N., our Bishop,) and all the con- 
gregations committed unto them, the spirit of 
Thy saving grace ; and that they may truly 
please Thee, pour upon them the continual dew 
of Thy blessing; through, &c 



478 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



A Prayer for one's Confessor. 

IN asking of Thee, 0 my God, the graces of 
which I am in need, can I without ingrati- 
tude, forget before Thee, him whom Thou hast 
chosen from among Thy ministers, to reconcile 
me to thee by the Sacrament of Penance, justly 
called the second plank after shipwreck ? 

Deign, I beseech thee, 0 my God ! to adorn 
his soul with the virtues befitting the functions , 
of the awful ministry with which thou hast in- 
vested him. Grant him the faith of St. Peter, 
the charity of St. Paul, the firmness of St. 
Chrysostom, the evangelical liberty of St. Am- 
brose, the lights of St. Augustine, the piety of 
St. Bernard, the zeal of St. Charles Borromeo, 
the mildness of St. Francis of Sales, and the 
humility of St. Vincent of Paul. „ 

Guide him Thyself, 0 Lord ! in all his actions, 
that after having been here below a prudent and 
faithful dispenser of Thy mysteries, he may 
hereafter receive from Thy bountiful hands, the 
bright crown Thou hast promised in a blessed 
eternity, to the priests who shall have conse- 
crated their lives to bring back their fellow- 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



419 



creatures from the ways of error, and to conduct 
them in the paths of justice and peace. Amen. 

A Prayer to the Monthly Patron. 

OTHOU blessed inhabitant of the heavenly 
Jerusalem ! who hast been appointed by 
the divine goodness to be my patron during this 
month ; receive me under Thy protection ; de- 
fend me by thy intercession from all dangers of 
soul and body ; obtain that I may be a faithful 
imitator of thy virtues, and that the fire of di- 
vine love may be more and more kindled in my 
heart. 

if. Pray for us, St. N. 

J$. That we may be made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 

Let us Pray. 

ALL merciful God ! Who, on each month, 
assign est me, through Thy infinite love, 
one of the heavenly citizens as my advocate and 
patron, graciously vouchsafe, that, by the inter* 
cession of St. N., whom Thy goodness has ap- 
pointed to be my model and protector during 



480 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



this month, I, N., and also A r . N. (mention the 
persons for whom you pray,) may feel an aug- 
mentation of Thy grace ; and fortified with the 
same, may steadfastly exercise the virtue of N. y 
which his example teaches and inspires : through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 



with the care of us. Be their light, that they 
may discern in all things that which is most 
conducive to Thy glory and our salvation. Be 
their strength, that they may have the courage 
to check and prevent all that might lead to Thy 
dishonor and to the injury of souls. Make 
them firm, gentle, patient and wise ; fill their 
hearts with Thy charity ; be their consolation in 
all their trials, help them to bear faithfully the 
portion of the cross which Thou hast laid upon 
them. Bless all the good works they undertake, 
and give them the grace to direct them accord- 
ing to Thy holy will. Bless our entire commu- 
nity, and to each one of us, give a spirit of 
docile submission, of union, of simplicity, and 



Prayer for our Superiors. 



BE Thyself, 
port of 1 



. 0 my God ! the guide and sup- 
those whom Thou hast intrusted 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



481 



self-sacrifice, that we may cheerfully and gen- 
erously labor together in Thy service, lighten 
the burden of our Superiors, be a joy to them, 
and by the exact and constant observance of our 
rules, secure the salvation of our souls and lead 
others to Thee. Amen. 

Prayer for one's Parents. 

THAT we should honor our parents is Thine 
own sweet command, 0 my God ! Hence, 
with great and loving confidence, I come to im- 
plore Thy mercy in behalf of mine. Thou dost 
condescend to let me call Thee by the tender 
name of Father. Remember him who shares 
with Thee a name so dear to me, To give us 
some idea of the extent of Thy love for us, Thou 
hast compared it to a mother's love. Hear, I 
beseech Thee, the petitions I make to Thee, for 
her who brought me into the world. Unable to 
make a just return to my parents for all the 
benefits I have received at their hands, I beg of 
Thee, O my God, to pay my debt of filial grati- 
tude, and by Thy grace to transform it into Thy 
most precious gifts. May Thy benediction rest 
on my father and mother as on the holy patri- 
31 



482 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



archs of old. Fill their hands with good works, 
and their hearts with Thy saving peace, and 
permit not that they should appear before Thee 
unprepared. Grant that I may never wilfully 
be a cause of sorrow to them. Forgive their 
sins and mine, that we may all be united with 
Thee in a blessed eternity. Amen. 

Prayer for the Conversion of Persons who 
are Dear to us. 

f~\ MY God ! the sorrow that so often makes 



\Jr me groan in Thy presence, is not hidden 
from Thee. Thou know r est w r ell that it abides 
in my heart like a cruel thorn, mingling grief 
with every joy. 

How painful to see the beings most tenderly 
loved, out of the way that leads to Thee and to 
eternal life ; to be unable to share with them 
the happiness of serving Thee and to tremble 
unceasingly, lest death should suddenly overtake 
them, without leaving them a single moment to 
utter a cry of repentance ! Ah ! how can I ex- 
press this sorrow. Thou seest it, 0 my God ! 
have compassion on it. 




OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



483 



Should that misfortune, the greatest of all, 
fall upon me ; were I condemned to experience 
that fearful anxiety for the eternal fate of a 
soul whom 'tis Thy will I should love, Thou 
wouldst still permit me to hope in the depths of 
Thy mercy; but I feel that life would become a 
martyrdom for me, and I could no longer enjoy 
a moment of happiness on earth. 

Ah ! my Saviour ! ere the hour of Thy inex- 
orable justice has come, I beseech Thy clemency 
to bring back those dear wanderers. Remember 
that Thou hast suffered and died for them. My 
Jesus ! they are Thine : in praying for their sal- 
vation, I enter into the designs of Thy work of 
Redemption. How could I be without confi- 
dence ? 

I will then hope, if need be, I will hope 
against hope, for " the Lord is nigh unto them 
that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him 
in truth. He will do the will of them that fear 
Him, and He will hear their prayer and save 
them. (Ps. cxliv, 18, 19.) Save them, save us, 
O my God ! and do as Thou pleasest with our 
earthly joys, with our lives. Save us, that to- 
gether we may sing Thy praises in eternity. 

Amen. 



484 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



Prayer for the Poor. 

O JESUS ! Who in Thy great mercy hast 
deigned to call me to serve Thee in the 
person of the poor, the lowly, the ignorant, 
inflame my heart with a great love for this, the 
special object of my vocation. In the fulfilment 
of whatever duties Thy providence may assign 
to me, grant that I may not be carried away by 
worldly views, but that I may cherish the things 
which Thou hast contemned. Give me the heart 
of a true Sister of Charity, a heart overflowing 
with love for Thee and for all that is dear to 
Thee ; and if I deserve not to be personally 
employed in ministering to the wants of Thy 
poor, let my unworthy prayers, at least, obtain 
the alleviation of their sufferings. Infuse into 
their souls a ray of Thy infinite wisdom, that 
by a generous submission to Thy will, they may 
merit an eternal recompense. Inspire the rich 
with charity ; they have received their wealth 
from Thee, and should be Thy stewards. Give 
them grace to be mindful of Thy words : Make 
unto you friends out of the mammon of in- 
iquity, that when you shall fail, they may 
receive you into everlasting dwellings. 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



485 



A Prayer to be Daily said by those who 

CARRY ABOUT THEM AN AGNUS DEI. 

OMY Lord Jesus Christ ! the true Lamb 
that takest away the sins of the world ! 
by Thy mercy, which is infinite, pardon my 
iniquities ; and by Thy sacred passion preserve 
me this day from all sin and evil. I carry about 
me this holy Agnus Dei in Thy honor, as a pre- 
servative against my own weakness, and as an 
incentive to the practice of meekness, humility 
and innocence, w r hich Thou hast taught. I offer 
myself up to Thee as an entire oblation, and in 
memory of that sacrifice of love Thou offeredst 
for me on the cross, and in satisfaction for my 
sins. Accept, 0 my God! the oblation I make, 
and may it be agreeable to Thee in odor of 
sweetness. Amen. 

An Invocation of the Most Holy Trinity 
for the Souls in Purgatory. 

OGOD of all goodness ! Father of mercies, 
Who at the prayers and fastings of Thy 
faithful people, didst vouchsafe to send Thy 
Angels to break asunder the fetters of Thy holy 



486 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



apostle Peter, and to open the doors of his 
prison ; hear even also on this day the prayers 
and supplications of Thy Church, and send Thy 
angel to the souls for whom we pray, that, the 
doors of their prison being opened wide, they 
may be happily received into the bosom of Thy 
mercy. Pater, Ave, Gloria. 

0 Son of God! Saviour of souls, Who didst 
refresh the three children in the burning fiery 
furnace, pour down upon the souls, that cry to 
Thee from the flames, Thy heavenly dew. Thy 
precious blood alone can quench the flames of 
purgatory ; oh ! let it now flow down upon these 
suffering souls, and do Thou, 0 Lord ! have 
mercy upon them. Pater, Ave, Gloria. 

0 Spirit of love ! have compassion on the 
cruel torment which these souls endure, who 
are filled with the purest charity, and aspiring 
without ceasing towards their God, cry aloud 
in their distress, "I thirst: I thirst after my 
God ! " and yet cannot attain unto the object of 
their love, nor receive the least drop of that 
torrent of pure delights. 0 Holy Spirit ! grant 
that, having felt the fiercest pangs of love, they 
may taste its heavenly delights in a blessed 
eternity. Amen. Pater, Ave, Gloria. 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



487 



Beads for the Dead. 
>J< In the name of the Father, &c. 
On the Large Beads : 

Eternal rest give unto them, 0 Lord ! 
I£. And let perpetual light shine upon them. 

Amen. 

On the Small Beads : 

0 compassionate Jesus ! have mercy on 
the souls of the faithful departed. 

JJ-. And grant them eternal rest. Amen. 

(The above are said on the ordinary beads. If you 
are praying for some particular person, use the pro- 
noun in the singular.) 

For Divine Guidance. 

"T TOUCHSAFE, 0 Lord ! in Thy great clem- 
Y ency, to enlighten, instruct and direct 
me, that in this and in all things, I may know 
and accomplish Thy holy will. 

To beg Counsel or Direction. 

ANGEL of the Great Council, and most 
charitable counsellor of all that apply 



488 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 

to Thee for advice ! I come to consult Thee, 
and to ask Thee for light and direction. Let 
me know, I beseech Thee, how I am to act, and 
what is most agreeable to Thy will. Let me 
know, by means best known to Thyself, what it 
is that Thou requirest of me. Teach me in 
what manner I am to conduct myself, and the 
means I am to make use of, that every particu- 
lar in this concern may succeed to Thy glory 
and the welfare of my soul. I offer thee a heart 
prepared to follow Thy divine directions, and to 
execute Thy orders ; because it is in Thee that 
I place all my hopes, and desire nothing more 
than the accomplishment of Thy will. Let, 
therefore, Thy divine light shine on me, and do 
not abandon me to my own darkness. Amen. 

To Implore Assistance at the Beginning 
of an Undertaking. 

I COME to Thee, 0 Jesus! before I com- 
mence this undertaking, to consecrate it, 
through Thy hands, to the glory of Thy eternal 
Father, and to implore Thy succor, that it may 
be executed in the manner most agreeable to 
Him. Thou knowest that without Thee I can 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



489 



do nothing ; grant me, then, the necessary as- 
sistance to accomplish the will of Thy heavenly 
Father, to observe faithfully all the laws of jus- 
tice, and keep myself free from sin in the execu- 
tion of this undertaking ; or rather, take the 
charge of the whole upon Thyself. Conduct it 
by Thy wisdom, execute it by Thy power, and 
bring everything to a happy issue, through Thy 
infinite goodness, to the glory of Thy Father, 
and to the eternal salvation of my soul. Amen. 



Hymn op Thanksgiving. 



TE Deum laudamus : 
*te Dominum con- 
fitemur. 

Te sternum Patrem, *om- 
nis terra veneratur. 

Tibi oinnes Angeli : tibi 
cceli, et universe potes- 
tates : 

Tibi Cherubim et Seraph- 
im * incessabili voce 
proclamant, 




E praise Thee, O 
God ! we acknow- 



ledge Thee to be our 
Lord. 

All the earth worships 
Thee, the Father ever- 
lasting. 

To Thee all the Angels 
cry aloud ; the heavens 
and all the heavenly 
powers : 

To Thee the Cherubim 
and Seraphim continu- 
ally cry, 



490 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, 

* Dominus Deus Saba- 
oth. 

Pleni sunt coeli et terra * 
majestatis glorise tuae. 

Te gloriosus * Apostolo- 

rum chorus : 
Te Prophetarum * lauda- 

bilis numerus ; 

Te Martyrum candidatus 

* laudat exercitus ; 

Te per orbem terrarum * 
sancta confitetur Eccle- 
sia 

Patrem * immensaa majes- 
tatis ; 

Verandum tuum verum * 
et unicum Filium, 

Sanctum quoque * Para- 
clitum Spiritum. 

Tu Eex gloriae, * Christe. 

Tu Patris * sempiternus 

es Filius. 
Tu, ad liberandum suscep- 

turus hominem * non 

horruisti Yirginis ute- 

rum. 



Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord 
God of Sabaoth. 

Heaven and earth are full 
of the majesty of Thy 
glory. 

The glorious choir of the 
Apostles praise Thee ; 

The admirable company 
of the Prophets praise 
Thee; 

The noble army of the 
Martyrs praise Thee. 

The holy Church through- 
out the world acknow- 
ledges Thee, 

The Father of infinite 
majesty ; 

Thy adorable, true and 
only Son ; 

Also, the Holy Ghost, the 
Comforter. 

Thou, O Christ! art the 
King of Glory. 

Thou art the everlasting 
Son of the Father. 

When Thou tookest upon 
Thee to deliver man 
Thou didst not disdain 
the Virgin's womb. 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



491 



Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, 

* aperuisti credentibus 
regna coelorum. 

Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes 

* in gloria Patris. 

Judex crederis * esse ven- 
turus. 

Te ergo qusesumus, tuis 
famulis subveni * quos 
prctioso sanguine rede- 
mis ti. 

iEterna fac cum Sanctis 
tuis * in gloria nume- 
rari. 

Salvum fac populum tu- 
um, Domine, * etbene- 
dic hereditati tuae. 

Et rege eos, et extolle illos 

* usque in aaternum. 
Per singulos dies, * bene- 

dicimus te. 
Et laudamus nomen tuum 
in saeculum, * et in sa> 
culum saaculi. 



Having overcome the 
sting of death, Thou 
didst open the king- 
dom of heaven to all 
believers. 

Thou sittest at the right 
hand of God, in the 
glory of the Father. 

"We believe that Thou 
shalt come to be our 
Judge. 

We therefore pray Thee 
to help Thy servants, 
whom Thou hast re- 
deemed with Thy pre- 
cious blood. 

Make them to be num- 
bered with Thy Saints 
in glory everlasting. 

Save Thy people, O Lord ! 
and bless Thy inheri- 
tance. 

Govern them and raise 

them up forever. 
Every day we bless Thee. 

And we praise Thy name 
for ever and ever. 



492 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



Dignare, Domine, die isto 

* sine peccato nos custo- 
dire. 

Miserere nostri Domine, 

* miserere nostri. 
Piat misericordia tua, Do- 
mini, super nos : * que- 
rn admodum speravimus 
in te. 

In te, Domine, speravi ! * 
non confundar in ster- 
num. 

"^ r , Benedicamus Pa- 
trern, et Filium, cum 
sancto Spiritu. 

Laudemus et su- 
perexaltemus eum in 
ssecula. 

Or emus. 

DEUS, cujus mis- 
ericordia3 non 
est Humerus, et boni- 
tatis infinitus est the- 
saurus : piissimae majes- 
tati tua3 pro collatis 
donis gratias agimus, 



Vouchsafe, O Lord! this 
day, to keep us without 
sin. 

Have mercy on us,0 Lord! 

have mercy on us. 
Let Thy mercy, O Lord ! 

be upon us, as we have 

hoped in Thee ; 

In Thee, O Lord ! I have 
hoped, let me never be 
confounded. 

Let us bless the 
Father, the Son, and 
the Holy Ghost. 

jfc. Let us praise and 
extol Him forever. 

Let us Pray. 

OGOD! Whose mer- 
cies are without 
number, and the treas- 
ure of Whose goodness 
is infinite: we give Thee 
thanks for the blessings 
Thou hast bestowed on 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



493 



tuam semper demen- 
ti am exorantes ; ut qui 
petentibus postulata 
concedis, eosdem non 
deserens, ad proemia 
futura disponas. Per 
Dominum nostrum. 



us : always beseeching 
Thy divine Majesty, 
that, as Thou grantest 
what we ask, so Thou 
wouldst continue Thy 
favors to us in such a 
manner that by them 
we may be prepared 
for receiving the re- 
wards of eternal happi- 
ness ; through Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 



Short Act of Contrition. 

0 SWEET Jesus! I grieve for my sins; 
vouchsafe to supply whatever is wanting 
to my true sorrow, and to offer for me to God 
the Father all the grief which Thou hast en- 
dured because of my sins and those of the w T hole 
world. Amen. 



A Prayer in time of Affliction, Wars, 
Pestilence, &c. 

O JESUS, divine Redeemer ! be merciful 
unto us and the whole w r orld, Amen. 



494 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS, 



0 powerful God! 0 holy God! 0 immortal 
God! have pity on us and all that are in the 
world. Amen. 

Pardon and mercy, 0 my Jesus ! during these 
present dangers. Pour on us Thy most precious 
blood. Amen. 

0 Eternal Father ! be merciful unto us ; by 
the blood of Jesus Christ, Thy only Son, be 
merciful unto us, we beseech Thee. Amen. 

A Prayer for Rain. 

OGOD ! in Whom we live, and move, and 
have our being, grant to us, we beseech 
Thee, competent rain, that partaking sufficiently 
of Thy temporal blessings, we may the more con- 
fidently desire everlasting things: through our 
Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

When Unable to Pray. 

ODEAR Lord Jesus Christ! behold my 
misery ; take pity on me and teach me 
how to pray ; teach me to know Thee and to 
know myself. Father, into Thy hands I com- 
mend my spirit. The mercies of the Lord I will 
sing forever. 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



495 



CD 
m 
PS 

02 



£1. 

o 



With Thy abasement so profound, 
With Thy intentions always pure, 
With Thy humble patience in the hour of 
sorrow, 

With Thy spirit, poor and ever meek, 
With Thy thirst to do Thy Father's will, 
With Thy care of mind for straying souls, 
With Thy silent prayer in every hour, 
With Thy submission to poor mortals' will, ° 
With Thy sweetness in Thy ardent labor, o 
With Thy detachment from created things, 
With Thy constant view of man's last end, 
With Thy pure faith which penetrated far 

beyond exterior things, 
With Thy constant death to self, 
With ail thy virtues, 
Thy charity sublime, Jesus, teach me now to 

imitate. 

Thy poverty extreme, Jesus, teach me now to 
imitate. 

Thy humility profound, Jesus, teach me now to 
imitate. 

Thy submission to man, Jesus, teach me now 
to imitate. 

Thy purity divine, Jesus, teach me now to 
imitate. 



496 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



Thy constant state of prayer, Jesus, teach me 

now to imitate. 
Thy meekness in rude trial, Jesus, teach me 

now to imitate. 
Thy zeal for man's eternal bliss, Jesus, teach 

me now to imitate. 
Thy fortitude, when darkness had its hour, 

Jesus, teach me now to imitate. 
Thy hope, when Heaven seemed to leave Thee 

desolate, Jesus, teach me now to imitate. 
Thy love for bringing little children to Thy 

Father's love, Jesus, teach me now to imitate. 
Thy virtues all, Jesus, teach me now to imitate. 

Prayer, 

O SWEET and lender providence of my 
God! into Thy hands I commend my 
spirit ; to Thee I abandon my hopes and fears, 
my desires and repugnances, my temporal and 
eternal prospects; to Thee I commit the wants 
of my perishable body ; to Thee I commit the far 
more precious interests of my immortal spirit, 
for whose lot I have nothing to apprehend, 
while I withdraw it not from Thee. Though 
my faults are many, my miseries great, my 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



spiritual poverty extreme, my hope in Thee 
surpasses all; it is superior to my weakness, 
greater than my difficulties, stronger than death. 
Though temptation should assail me, I will hope 
in Thee ; though I should break my resolutions, 
I will look to Thee confidently for grace to keep 
them at last ; " though Thou shouldst kill me, 
even then will I trust in Thee ; " for " Thou art 
my Father and my God, and the support of my 
salvation." Thou art my kind, my tender, my 
indulgent Parent, and I am Thy loving child, 
who cast myself into Thy arms and beg Thy 
blessing; who put my trust in Thee, and so 
trusting, shall not be confounded. 



A Prayer for Renewing the Promises of 
Baptism. 

MOST holy Trinity! Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, one God in three persons ! I 
present myself before Thy sovereign Majesty, 
to pay Thee the tribute of my adoration and 
thanksgiving, for the innumerable graces and 
blessings which Thou hast so liberally bestowed 
upon me, from my first coming into the world, 
until now. I thank Thee particularly, 0 my 
32 



498 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



God ! for the inestimable grace of my baptism. 
What gratitude can bear proportion to such a 
favor ? By baptism, I have been delivered from 
the power of darkness, and translated into the 
kingdom of Thy beloved Son ; by baptism I 
have been cleansed from the stain of that sin 
in which I was born ; by baptism, I have been 
made a member of the body of Jesus Christ, to 
live of His life, to be animated and guided by 
His spirit, to be fed with His sacred flesh, to 
enter into His designs, to imitate His virtues ; 
finally, to be a living image of what He has 
been during His mortal life. These are the 
obligations of my baptism, these are the con- 
ditions of the alliance which Thou wouldst have 
me contract with Thee ; and although I was at 
that time ignorant of them, and my will had no 
part in this sacred contract, far from wishing 
to be released from them, or appealing, in any 
manner, from my vows and professions, I ratify 
them now, and renew them in Thy presence 
from the bottom of my heart, with a profound 
sorrow for having hitherto led a life so little 
conformable to my promises, and proved myself, 
by repeated transgressions, so unworthy of the 
glorious quality of Thy child. But now, relying 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



499 



on the promised assistance of Thy grace, it is 
my firm determination to labor all my life in ful- 
filing the sacred engagements which my sponsors 
have contracted in my name. 

Yes, 0 my God ! I renounce, for ever, Satan 
and all his suggestions, the world and all its 
pomps, sin and all its concupiscences. I am 
resolved, as it was promised in my behalf, to 
unite and attach myself more and more to Jesus 
Christ, my Saviour, and to make His divine 
laws and maxims the object of my earnest study, 
and the invariable rule of all my actions. 

0 Eternal Father ! Who was pleased to 
adopt me in Thy Son Jesus Christ, as one of 
Thy children, and to call me to Thy celestial 
inheritance, revive in me the grace of this divine 
adoption ; and since I am regenerated by Thee 
alone, in order to be a citizen of heaven, grant 
that I may live for Thee alone, and that all my 
desires and labors may be directed to the acqui- 
sition of heavenly goods. 

0 Jesus! the only-begotten Son of the Father ! 
Who hast made me a member of Thy mystical 
body, washed me in Thy blood and sanctified 
me by Thy holy sacraments, perfect Thy work 
in me. Purify my heart from the remains of 



500 



OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 



the pride and corruption of Adam ; and form 
Thy precious image in my soul, by engraviug 
in it Thy charity, Thy humility, Thy purity and 
all Thy other virtues, which are the glorious 
features of that image. 

0 Holy Spirit ! adorable principle of the 
divine adoption ! be also the principle of my 
life, of my actions, of my desires, and of all the 
motions of my heart, that they may be worthy 
of a child of God, and member of Jesus Christ. 

0 Holy Trinity! Who, in consecrating me 
to Thy service by baptism, hast made me the 
adorer of the Unity of Thy name, and of the 
Trinity of Thy persons, mercifully grant that I 
may adore Thee in spirit and in truth during 
my life, and love, praise and enjoy Thee during 
eternity. Amen. 

i 



PRAYERS FOR A GOOD DEATH. 

Act of Acceptance of Death. 

Oniy God ! I accept death and all the suffer- 
ings that will accompany it ; I unite them 
with the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ ; 
I offer them to Thee to honor Thy sovereign 
dominion and in satisfaction for my sins. Ac- 
cept, 0 Lord ! this sacrifice of my life which I 
make to Thee ; may it become agreeable to 
Thee, through the great sacrifice of Himself 
which Thy Divine Son has made on the altar of 
the cross. I now submit willingly to all the 
sufferings Thou mayst require of me, and pro- 
test that in dying, I wish to say, Thy will, 0 
Lord ! be done. Holy Yirgin, my Patroness, 
my Mother, next to God, I place my hope in 
thee, thou wilt be my greatest consolation in 
my last hour. I humbly implore thee to assist 
me in that final passage. Do not forsake me at 
that terrible moment. Come, then, to take my 
soul and present it to thy Son. Already, I 
await thee and hope to die under thy protection. 
St. Joseph, St. Michael, my Angel Guardian, 

501 



502 PRAYERS FOR A GOOD DEATH. 



my holy Patrons, aid me in my last combat 
against my enemies and hell. 

And Thou, 0 my Jesus ! my crucified Saviour 
Who, to obtain for me a happy death, hast cho- 
sen one so painful, remember on that day that I 
was redeemed by Thy precious blood. Thou 
alone, when all my earthly friends have forsaken 
me, when none can succor me, Thou alone wilt 
console and save me ; make me worthy, then, to 
receive Thee as my Viaticum ; be with me in 
my journey from time to eternity ; do not permit 
that I should lose Thee forever. My beloved 
Saviour, take me within Thy sacred wounds, 
which I dare to embrace with reverence. When 
I yield my last sigh, I wish to breathe forth my 
soul in Thy Sacred Heart, pierced for love of 
me. May my last words be, Jesus and Mary, I 
give you my heart. Amen. 



Litany for a Happy Death 

LORD Jesus, God of goodness, Father of 
mercies ! I stand before Thee, with heart 
humbled, contrite, and full of compunction ; to 
Thee I commend my last hour and all that awaits 
me after it. 



PRAYERS FOR A GOOD DEATH. 503 

When my feet, motionless, shall warn me that 
my course is well-nigh run, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my hands, trembling and benumbed, 
shall no more be able to clasp Thee crucified, 
and when in spite of myself I am forced to let 
Thee fall upon my bed of pain, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my eyes, dim and distorted at the dread 
of approaching death, shall fix on Thee their 
languid, dying balls, 

Merciful Jesus! have pity upon me. 

When my lips, cold and quivering, shall utter 
for the last time Thy most adorable name, 
Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my cheeks, pale and livid, inspire the 
bystanders with compassion and awe, and my 
hair, bathed in the sweat of death, stands erect 
upon my head and declares my hour is come, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my ears, soon to be shut forever to the 
words of men, shall be opened to hear Thy 



504 PRAYERS FOR A GOOD DEATH. 



voice pronouncing the sentence by which my 
condition is to be irrevocably fixed for all eter- 
nity, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

"When my imagination, preyed upon by hor- 
rible and fearful spectres, shall be drowned in 
mortal woe, and my spirit, stricken with the 
sight of my ill-doings and the fear of Thy jus- 
tice, shall wrestle with the powers of darkness, 
striving to take from me the consoling sight of 
Thy mercies and to cast me down headlong into 
the pit of despair, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my weak heart, borne down with the 
pain of my disease, shall be overtaken with the 
horror of death, and be exhausted by the efforts 
it has made against the enemies of my salvation, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When I shed my last tears, sign of my disso- 
lution, do Thou receive them as an expiatory 
sacrifice, that so I may expire a victim of pen- 
ance ; then in that dread moment, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 



PRAYERS FOR A GOOD DEATH. 505 



When relatives and friends, compassing me 
round about, melt into tears at my sad state, 
and invoke Thee in my behalf, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my senses are gone, and the world has 
vanished from my sight ; and when in the an- 
guish of my last agony and in the affright of 
death I groan, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my heart's last throbbings shall force 
my soul to depart from my body, do Thou accept 
these throbbings as the children of a holy impa- 
tience, eager to ccme to Thee ; and then do 
Thou, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

When my soul, long tarrying upon the brink 
of my lips, shall issue forever out of this world, 
and leave my body pale, cold, and lifeless, Oh ! 
do Thou accept this dissolution of my being as 
the homage which I render Thy divine majesty; 
and then do Thou, 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 

Last of all, when my soul shall appear before 
Thee, and for the first time see the immortal 



506 PRAYERS FOR A GOOD DEATH. 

brightness of Thy majesty, Oh ! cast it not away 
from Thy presence, but vouchsafe to receive it 
into the loving bosom of Thy tender mercy, 
there forever to sing Thy praises, world without 
end. 

Merciful Jesus ! have pity upon me. 
Prayer. 

OGOD ! Who condemning all men at once 
to die, hast yet concealed from them the 
moment and the hour of their death ; grant that 
I, passing all the days of my life injustice and 
in holiness, may be made worthy to depart out 
of this world in Thy holy love; through the 
merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth 
and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy 
Ghost. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



Consolations and Advantages of Suffer- 
ings. 



E may be sure that, when God afflicts 



strikes, it is to heal us. It is the Lord Who 
chastises — let Him be blessed forever ; He 
knows what is best — my trust is in His infinite 
goodness. Without this disposition, how piti- 
able our case would be ! We would bear all the 
weight of the cross, without any alleviation — 
experience all its bitterness, without any of its 
sweetness. 

0 God ! strengthen us ; give us grace to suffer 
in the manner most agreeable to Thee, and then 
send us what sufferings Thou pleasest. 

What would we think of a person who, being 
happily driven, by a very favorable wind, towards 
the port to which he is bound, would choose ra- 
ther to be left in the midst of rocks, where there 
is every danger of shipwreck ? Xow, is it not 
just so with us ? The wind of trials and suffer- 
ings will certainly drive us to the port of salva- 




us, it is to instruct us ; and when He 



507 



508 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



tion, if we would but help to press on by a loving 
submission ; and yet we shrink from the favor- 
able gale : we prefer rather to be the sport of 
those dangers which threaten us with eternal 
ruin. 

Are our pains and trials too high a price to 
pay for the possession of God ? While we suffer 
we must remember that we are purchasing hea- 
ven. It is only by suffering we can become like 
our crucified Master, and receive a pledge of our 
share in His glory. 

The cross, if carried with patient and loving 
submission, is a certain mark of our election. 

The cross is the seal with which the mercy of 
God now marks us ; so that, when the ministers 
of His justice come, we may be distinguished 
from those over whom they are to pour the 
chalice of the divine wrath. This seal of the 
cross will rank us among those whose robes are 
washed in the blood of the Lamb — the Lamb 
that was slain for us. This divine Lamb will 
become our good Shepherd in His heavenly 
Jerusalem, during a glorious and happy eter- 
nity, and lead us to the fountain of living 
waters : then He will wipe away all tears from 
our eyes ; and sorrow and pain shall be no 
more. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



509 



Instructions for the Sick, against different 
Temptations, &c. 

Impatience. 

TO die in the greatest pains in this life, and 
pass to the most dreadful torments of the 
next, was the case of the bad thief. And what 
was the cause ? Was it solely the enormous 
sins of which he had been guilty ! No: it was 
his want of faith, patience, and contrition. For, 
the accomplice of his crimes, and the companion 
of his torments, went to heaven from the very 
arms of the cross ; his faith, patience and con- 
trition drew from his Judge this promise : This 
day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. 

Let us consider that God puts a crown of 
thorns on us in this life, that we may merit a 
crown of glory in the next. The more painful 
the one is on earth, the more glorious will the 
other be in heaven. The suffering soon termi- 
nates, but the recompense will be eternal. 

They who think much of the pains of this life, 
think too little of the pains of the next: one or 
the other must be endured. When we are well 
persuaded that tribulations and sickness suffered 



510 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



here with patience stand in the place of purga- 
tory in the next world, we soon enter into the 
dispositions with which the souls of the just 
suffer there ; and, far from desiring that our 
pains should be diminished, we desire even that 
they may be increased, that we may satisfy, in 
the fullest manner in our power, for our sins, 
Let us consider the bed in which we suffer as 
our purgatory. 

If we compare our pains with those of hell — 
that hell we have so often deserved ; if we weigh 
and measure our sufferings with those of a lost 
soul, — the very greatest we can endure will ap- 
pear as nothing, and we will cry out with grati- 
tude and love : Let the mercy of my God be 
blessed for condemning me to these fevers and 
pains ! How light is this punishment compared 
to my sins ! St. Bernard says : If we descend 
in spirit into hell, and see with the eyes of faith 
what is suffered there, our severest pains would 
seem as nothing in comparison with the eternal 
torments of the reprobate ; and that which, 
without this consideration, seems insupportable, 
would be endured with gratitude and joy. 

A religious of the order of St. Bernard was 
visited in his sickness by St. Agatha, who said 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



511 



to him; " Sixty days of pains which you will 
suffer, will perfect you in the merits of the sixty 
years you have been serving God." He died 
sixty days afterwards. 

Impatience will neither ease our pains nor 
cure our maladies, bat patience will both miti- 
gate and render them meritorious. 

Fear or Death. 

SINCE I must die some day or other, why 
not die at this very time ? I can easily be 
mistaken, but God can never mistake the best 
time for the end of my earthly course. 

After death there is no more danger of offend- 
ing God — no more sin. Though I live no longer 
here below, I shall live with my God forever ; I 
shall love and praise Him for all eternity. 

" Jerusalem, my happy home, how do I sigh 
for thee," &c. 

Against the Fear of being Lost. 

IF I consider only the justice of God, my sins 
condemn me to punishment, to eternal rep- 
robation ; but I hear the voice of my Saviour, 



512 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK* 



saying : At whatever time the sinner seeks for 
mercy and pardon, mercy and pardon shall both 
be granted, even at the last hour, if he come 
with a sincere and penitent heart. Remember 
the good thief. 

My God forbids me to despair; he commands 
me to hope. It depends on me to renounce my 
sins sincerely — God does not require what is 
impossible — the blood of my Saviour is ready 
to blot them out. I will hope in the virtue of 
that blood — I will enter into the Sacred Heart 
of my Jesus, where a dying sinner can always 
find refuge, salvation and life. If His justice 
should seem to drive me away from Him, still I 
will follow Him, with sighs and tears, until He 
receives me into the bosom of His mercy. 

Our good and merciful God will never reject 
a repentant sinner, even should he be the great- 
est of all offenders. No malice of sin, no num- 
ber of crimes can surpass the greatness of God's 
mercy. Persevere in trusting in His infinite 
goodness and mercy, until He bids you depart 
from this world in peace. 

Our Saviour called Judas friend, to show that 
he was not yet irretrievably excluded from His 
friendship. His despair alone was the cause of 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



513 



his reprobation : he thought, as Cain did, that 
his sin was too great to be pardoned. The 
malice of man can never be infinite, while the 
goodness of God is always infinite ; consequently, 
I must never despair. An immense goodness 
demands a boundless confidence. 

I know that my whole life has been filled 
with sins and imperfections. I now accept of 
death with humble submission, in atonement for 
my continual disobedience to the holy will of my 
good God. And since I can only cease to sin 
by ceasing to live, I am even glad to die, that I 
may sin no more. Is this confidence too great, 
my soul ? It cannot be, since we have an infi- 
nite satisfaction to offer for sin, the infinite 
merits of our Redeemer. We will then go 
out of this world confiding in Jestjs, our God 
and Saviour. In Thee, 0 Lord ! have I 
trusted ; I shall never be confounded. 

My faith is the same that Jesus Christ com- 
missioned His Apostles to teach to the whole 
world, when He said to them : Go ye, and teach 
all nations . . . and behold I am ivilh you all 
days, even to the consummation of the ivorld. 

Our blessed Saviour did not promise His 
Apostles to be with them for three or four hun- 
33 



514 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



dred years only, but all days, even to the con- 
summation of the world. How then could the 
Catholic Church ever go astray, her pastors 
having always with them Jesus Christ Himself, 
Who is the way, the truth, and the life? 
What a happiness to be a child of the holy 
Catholic and Apostolic Church! 

To die in the bosom and communion of the 
true Church — oh, what a blessing! 

Invite the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holy 
Apostles, the millions of martyrs who have laid 
down their lives in defence of this pure and 
holy faith, the whole triumphant Church, to 
unite with you in thanksgiving. 

Glory be to the Father , &c. 

The Faithful Soul, at the Approach of 
Death, forms Acts of Faith, Hope and 
Love. 

THE time draws near, 0 Lord ! when dark- 
ness will be dispelled and Faith changed 
into the clear vision of Truth ; the time draws 
near when I shall behold what I have believed. 
A moment more, and Thy marvels shall be un- 
veiled ; face to face. I shall see Thy beauty, the 



DEVOTIONS TOR THE SICK. 



515 



holiness that is in Thee, Thy resplendent Truth! 
My Saviour! I believe, help Thou my unbelief, 
uphold my weakness. 0 my God ! I acknow- 
ledge that, of myself, I have nothing to hope ; 
but Thou hast commanded me to hope against 
hope. Therefore, hoping against hope, I will 
rely on Thy mercy. All earthly things are 
passing; this mortal habitation is crumbling 
away ; but if this earthly dwelling falls to 
ruin, I have a heavenly mansion into which 
Thou wilt receive me. 0 Lord! thither I 
hasten ; my treasure is there. I rejoiced at 
the things that were said to me: ice shall go 
into the house of the Lord. Our feet were 
standing in thy courts, 0 Jerusalem! and I 
eagerly long to enter within thy safe enclosure. 

When shall I see Thee, my only Good, O 
when shall I see Thee ? When shall I behold 
the beauty of Thy countenance ? 0 Truth ! 0 
Light! 0 Supreme Good! Source of every 
good, Being all perfect, Who alone art, and 
from Whom all have existence ; in Whom T 
will abide, and Who wilt abide in me, with 
Whom I will be united forever. My God, I 
love Thee ! my God, my life and my strength, 
I will love Thee always. I will behold Thy 



516 



DEVOTIONS FOR TIIE SICK. 



wonders. Laden with Thy benefits, rejoicing 
in Thy bliss, I will sing Thy praises. All is 
gone ; the things that surround me vanish like 
smoke; but I am speeding where I shall find 
all Almighty, eternal God, God of supreme 
happiness, I rejoice in Thy power, in Thy eter- 
nity, in Thy bliss. When shall I see Thee in 
Whom all things begin, and Who art Thyself 
without a beginning ? When shall I see the 
Son, eternally begotten by Thee, and perfectly 
equal to Thee? When shall I see the Holy 
Ghost, proceeding from the union of both, ter- 
minating the divine fecundity, and consummat- 
ing its eternal action ? . . . Peace, my soul ; be 
silent — why continue to lisp when Truth itself 
is about to speak to thee ? 

My Saviour, whilst pondering over Thy 
words, I have so earnestly longed to see and 
to hear Thee ! The hour is come ; in a moment 
I shall behold Thee ; I shall meet Thee as my 
Judge, it is true, but Thou wilt be to me a 
saving Judge; Thou wilt judge me according 
to Thy mercy, because I place all my hope in 
Thee and abandon myself to Thee without re- 
serve. Jerusalem, holy City, happy Saints of 
God, my new brethren, or rather, my old and 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



51? 



faithful friends, I salute you in faith. Though 
so vile and weak, I hope to be admitted into 
your blessed unity. Adieu, my mortal brethren; 
adieu, holy Catholic Church ! Thou hast borne 
me in thy bosom ; thou hast fed me with the 
milk of thy doctrine, of thy Sacraments ; thou 
hast strengthened me for this hour, and thy 
prayers and sacrifices will follow me beyond the 
grave. But no; living, immortal Church, I do 
not part with thee ; I shall find thee glorious 
and triumphant in Heaven. I shall behold thy 
beginning and thy end ; the prophets and apos- 
tles, thy foundation; the mart}TS, thy victims; 
the virgins, thy flowers ; the confessors, thy 
ornaments; all the saints, thy intercessors. O 
holy Church! I close my eyes and bid thee 
farewell on earth ; I shall find thee in Heaven. 



Short Acts for the Sick. 

MY God ! I accept this sickness from Thy 
hands, and I resign myself entirely to 
Thy hands, whether it be for life or death. Not 
my will but Thine be done ! 

My God! I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, 
I love, and I am truly sorry for having offended, 
Thee. 



518 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



0 Lord ! I offer up to Thee all that I now 
suffer, or may have yet to suffer, to be united to 
the sufferings of my Redeemer and sanctified by 
His passion. 

1 love Thee, 0 my God ! with my whole heart, 
and soul, above all things ; at least, I desire so 
to love Thee. Oh ! come now, take full posses- 
sion of my soul, and teach me to love Thee for- 
ever. I wish to love my neighbor with perfect 
charity, for the love of Thee. I forgive, from 
my heart, all who have in any way offended or 
injured me ; and I ask pardon of all whom I 
have, in any way, offended or injured. Have 
mercy on me, 0 God ! according to Thy great 
mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy 
tender mercies, blot out my iniquities. 

0 God ! be merciful to me, a sinner. Jesus, 
Son of the living God ! have mercy on me. 
Jesus, infinite Goodness ! have mercy on me. 

1 renounce, from this moment and for all eter- 
nity, the devil and all his works, and I abhor all 
his suggestions and temptations. Suffer not this 
mortal enemy, 0 Lord of my soul ! to have any 
power over me, either now or at my last hour. 

I wish to die, to expiate by my sufferings and 
death all the sins which I have ever committed. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 519 



I wish to die, that I may no longer offend 
Thee — that I may love Thee, possess Thee, 
praise Thee, bless Thee, and glorify Thee for- 
ever in heaven. 

0 my God ! I desire to love Thee with my 
whole heart, mind and strength. Oh ! how 
good hast Thou been to me ! and how ungrate- 
ful have I been to Thee ! I grieve from the 
bottom of my heart that I have ever offended 
Thee. 

0 holy Mary ! my Mother, who didst assist at 
the death of thy beloved Son Jesus, obtain for 
me the grace of a happy death. Hail Mary, 
&c. 

0 my holy Guardian Angel ! defend me from 
all my enemies, and conduct my soul to heaven. 

Lord Jesus ! be mindful of Thy poor crea- 
ture, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy precious 
blood. 

1 desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. 
Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. 

Sweet Jesus ! receive my soul. 

When the Sick are no longer able to read them- 
selves, these Acts should be read for them, slowly and 
in a low tone of voice, so as not to weary the sufferer. 
Read but little at a time. Suggest now and then Acts 



520 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition, little aspira- 
tions implying resignation and confidence in God, 
and short prayers to which Indulgences are attached, 
such as : 

" My Jesus, mercy ! Sweet Heart of Mary, 
be my refuge ! " "0 Jesus, be not my Judge, 
but my Saviour ! " " Jesus, Mary, Joseph," &c. 

Preparations for the Holy Viaticum. 

JESUS Christ, my divine Saviour, is about to give 
Himself to me as my Viaticum. O ineffable 
love of my God and Saviour, thus to visit me in sick- 
ness ! In becoming man, Thou didst visit all man- 
kind in order to save them ; in coming to me as my 
Viaticum, it is Thy design to consummate the work 
of my salvation. This great work was commenced 
by Baptism ; it was still further advanced by Con- 
firmation, and by all the Communions which I have 
made during my life : now Thou comest to finish it 
by the Holy Viaticum. Inconceivable goodness ! A 
God comes to His creature ! the Holy of holies to a 
sinner ! He, Who is all, to a mere nothing ! 

Ah ! Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of 
him : or the son of man that Thou visitest him ? 

But, why does our Lord and Saviour come to us as 
our Viaticum in sickness ? He comes to console us in 
our dejection, our weariness, our despondency ; to be 
our companion and guide in the long and perilous 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



521 



journey to eternity ; to present us to His Father, and 
plead the cause of our eternal salvation. In dying, 
we leave all that we hold dearest in the world ; now 
this is not done without much natural repugnance : 
therefore Jesus Christ comes to us, to be the support 
and consolation of our hearts. 

In dying we pass from time to eternity ; in this 
journey we go alone, and by an unknown way : 
therefore, Jesus Christ comes to accompany us, in 
this frightful solitude, this difficult and dangerous 
journey. 

In dying, we go to appear before the tribunal of 
divine justice : and because we are burdened with sins 
and destitute of virtues, Jesus Christ comes to wash 
away our sins in His blood, and to impart His grace 
to our souls. 

Admirable goodness ! when all things fail us, our 
Jesus comes to be all things to us. "When every one 
abandons us, and must leave us alone, our Jesus comes 
to be Himself our companion and guide : and when 
the affair of our eternal salvation is to be concluded, 
He washes us with His blood, and applies to us the 
merits of His death and passion. 

Truly we may say with the well-beloved disciple, 
St. John : Having loved His own who were in the 
world he loved them to the end. 

MY Saviour! Thou hast loved me much: 
my whole life has been one continued 
series of graces ; and because Thou hast loved 



522 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



me much, Thou lovest me to the end — to my 
death, when Thou art my helper, my support, 
and my consolation. 

Thou lovest me even after my death ; Thou 
wilt then be my advocate with Thy Father. 

O unspeakable goodness of Jesus, my Sa- 
viour! inflame my heart with the fire of Thy 
own divine charity, that I may desire ardently 
to receive Thee ; and that I may truly say, what 
Thou didst deign to say in the institution of this 
adorable Sacrament ; With desire I have de- 
sired to receive Thee. 0 my Saviour ! I have 
an extreme desire to receive Thee, as my Viati- 
cum. With St. John, I invite Thee to come: 
Come, Lord Jesus. Yes, my Saviour, I desire 
Thee with ardor. Come, come, 0 Jesus, come ! 
be a Saviour to me ; come, and finish the work 
of my salvation. 



A Prayer before receiving the Holy 
Viaticum. 

SACRED Viaticum ! light of the blind, sup- 
port of the weak, aliment of the strong, 
consolation of the dying, precious pledge of im- 
mortality, faithful and charitable guide, come to 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE STCK. 



523 



me, and conduct me safely to the delightful and 
eternal abode, which Thou hast, through love 
and mercy, prepared for me, which Thou hast 
merited for me by Thy sufferings and by the 
effusion of Thy blood. Come, 0 God of light! 
come to my mind, and dissipate its darkness. 
Come to my soul, 0 God of sanctity! and re- 
plenish it with those graces, which flow in abun- 
dance from Thy adorable flesh and precious 
blood. Come to my heart, 0 God of charity ! 
and inflame it with that ardor which is hidden 
with Thee in this adorable Sacrament, the fur- 
nace of sacred love. Come to my body, 0 God of 
all purity! to purify and sanctify this sinful flesh. 

I accept, with an entire submission, death, 
which I have deserved ; but I would wish Thee 
to receive as a sacrifice of love, what I am 
obliged to pay Thy justice, as a debt contracted 
by my sins. I wish to die, because I have de- 
served death ; I wish to die, that I may be in- 
dissolubly united to Thee ; but, above all, I wish 
to die, because such is Thy will. Strike then, 
my Lord and my God, when it shall please Thee, 
provided Thou Thyself dost prepare me. It is 
with these dispositions, 0 my God and Saviour ! 
that I desire to receive Thee. Come,*my Jesus, 



524 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



come ; my whole soul desires Thee. Come, and 
teach me to die well, that I may Jive forever with 
Thee in heaven. 

A Prayer After Receiving the Holy 
Viaticum. 

NOW, my God and Saviour, Thou art mine; 
Thou Thyself art my Viaticum. Glory 
and thanksgiving be to Thee, 0 Jesus ! Who in 
Thy sweetness hast been pleased to visit my 
poor soul. Now, that Thou art come to me, I 
will never let Thee go. Nothing, O my Jesus ! 
nothing shall ever separate me from Thee, i" 
desire to be dissolved, and to be with Thee ; 
for Thou art my life, and to die will be my 
gain. Now I will fear no evils, though I walk 
in the midst of the shadow of death, for Thou, 
0 Lord ! art with me. Thou hast come to be 
the companion of my soul in its journey to eter- 
nity. Thou sanctifiest, for the last time, my 
poor body, and puttest the seal of immortality 
upon it. Thy glorified body, my Jesus, is ap- 
plied to the body of Thy poor creature ; Thy 
very blood is running through my veins, and 
leaving everywhere the pledge and germ of a 
new life. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



525 



This divine Viaticum, which I have received, 
is my God, my Saviour, Who Himself has said : 
I am the way, the truth and the life. 0 adora- 
ble and sacred Viaticum! Thou art the way 
that conductest me, the truth that enlightenest 
me, and the life that deliverest me from spiritual 
and eternal death. 0 my God and Saviour! 
divine Viaticum ! how truly Thou art to me the 
way, the truth and the life ! 

What have I now to fear I Being thus armed 
and fortified, I need not dread the most formida- 
ble enemies I may have to encounter, since I 
possess, in the sacred Viaticum, the Lord of 
Hosts, Who Himself combats in me and for me. 
Lord, in Thee have I trusted, let me never be 
confounded. 

Immediate Preparation for the Sacrament of 
Extreme Unction, 

T)Y the unction of Baptism, our senses, our body 
^ and our whole being were consecrated to God, 
to show that we were wholly His, and that we ought 
to live only for Him : but alas ! how many times 
have we offended our good God by our senses and 
our whole being ! 



520 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



Jesus Christ, our divine Saviour, seeing our senses 
profaned by the bad use we have made of them : see- 
ing our souls, either guilty, or at least indebted to the 
divine justice, and, consequently, not in a condition 
to appear before God, and to be united to Him, comes 
to purify us again in His own blood. He comes to 
fill us with His graces, to enrich us with the infinite 
treasures which He acquired for us by His passion 
and death. 

BY Baptism we were washed in Thy blood, 
0 Jesus ! and received the first grace, 
the principle of a spiritual life ; by Extreme 
Unction, in which we are anointed in Thy 
blood, Thou givest the plentitude of Thy grace 
and consurnmatest in us this spiritual and divine 
life. 

O loving Redeemer ! at the time Thou wast 
instituting Thy admirable Sacraments, Thou 
didst think of each one of 'us, and destined for 
each one the graces which were to be received 
through them, as through so many channels, by 
which Thy blood would flow to us. 

During the administration of this Sacrament, let 
us consider Jesus Christ in the person of the priest ; 
and as often as he says : By this holy unction^ let 
us behold Jesus Christ pouring His blood upon us. 
If our faith is lively, we shall see the precious blood 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



52T 



of our Jesus really applied to our souls : and our acts 
of love and contrition will "be most sincere and heart- 
felt. 

A Prayer before Extreme Unction. 

THOU bast mercifully provided remedies, 0 
Lord ! for all our necessities ; grant me 
Thy grace so to make use of them, that my soul 
may receive ail those good effects which Thou 
hadst in view in their institution. 

Xow I desire to be anointed as Thou hast 
commanded by Thy Apostle: grant, I beseech 
Thee, that by this holy unction and by the 
prayers of the Church, I may partake of that 
spirit with w T hich Christ suffered on the cross 
for Thy glory and for the destruction of sin. 
Give me true patience to support all the pains, 
weariness and disgust which I may still have to 
endure ; give me that true light by which I may 
be conducted through the shadow of death to 
eternal happiness. If Thou foreseest that my 
health will be conducive to Thy greater glory, 
and expedient for my eternal salvation, let this 
be the means to restore it. Dispose of me as 
Thou thinkest best ; all my desire is the accom- 
plishment of Thy will ; give health or sickness, 



528 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



life or death ; not my will, but Thine be clone : 
it is a greater happiness to fulfil Thy adorable 
will than to enjoy ten thousand lives. How 
happy should I be if the destruction of my body 
could repair the injuries I have offered to Thy 
divine Majesty ! My eyes, alas ! have seen vani- 
ties ; my ears have been open to sinful and un- 
profitable discourses ; my tongue has many ways 
offended in speaking and tasting; my hands 
have contributed to innumerable follies ; mv 
feet have gone astray in the paths of iniquity. 
By this holy unction, and by. the prayers of Thy 
holy Church, pardon me, 0 Jesus ! all the sins 
I have committed by the gratification of my 
senses. Let those avenues, through which sin 
has made its way into my soul, be now closed 
to the world ; let my eyes be open to Thee 
alone; my ears attentive to Thy sacred word; 
my tongue solely employed in soliciting mercy. 
Let my prayers ascend like incense in Thy sight ; 
let my hands be lifted up to heaven for pardon ; 
may my feet walk in Thy ways, and my heart 
be the living temple of the Holy Ghost. Into 
Thy hands, 0 dear Jesus ! I commend my 
spirit. In Thee I will live ; in Thee I will 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



529 



die ; in Thee I hope to possess eternal rest for 
ever and ever. Amen. 

A Prayer after Extreme Unction. 

OMY Jesus! Thou hast, with Thy own 
blood, purified and sanctified my whole 
being: for this, and all other blessings, I offer 
Thee the pure and perfect thanksgiving Thou 
receivest from Thy Blessed Mother and all the 
Saints. I do not desire to be freed from my 
pains ; Thou knowest what is best for me : give 
me patience to suffer whatever Thou pleasest, 
and as long as Thou pleasest. If it be Thy 
divine will to inflict on my weak body still 
greater punishments than those I now endure, 
my heart is ready, 0 Lord ! my heart is ready 
to accept them, and suffer in whatever manner 
shall be conformable to Thy holy will. This one 
grace I most earnestly beg of Thee, my God, 
that I may die the death of Thy elect, and be 
admitted, after the sufferings and tribulations of 
this transitory life, into the kingdom of Thy 
glory, there to see, praise, and love Thee for all 
eternity. Amen, most compassionate and most 
bountiful Jesus, Amen, 
34 



530 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



On the Last Benediction. 



Some Considerations to Dispose the Soul to 
Keceiye with Full Benefit the Last Bene- 
diction, to "which is Attached a Plenary 
Indulgence. 



you ! At your entrance into the world, your 
soul was purified from the stain of original sin, in 
the blood of your Jesus ; you were made a child of 
God, and an heir of heaven. Alas ! no sooner were 
you capable of sinning, than you defiled your dear- 
bought robe of innocence, forfeited your title of child 
of God, and your claims to your heavenly inherit- 
ance. Again, your rights and privileges were re- 
stored ; but again and again you were ungrateful ; 
you offended a thousand times ; and as often were 
you pressed by His love and mercy to return, and be 
again purified in the same redeeming blood. You 
have been brought up, as it were, in the bosom of 
mercy; your whole life, through every revolving day 
and hour, has been a continual succession of mercies. 
And now that you are so near your entrance into 
eternity, your good God, with a solicitude more affec- 
tionate than that of the tenderest mother, is still 
watching over you : He calls upon you to receive 
this Last Benediction, this Plenary Indulgence, that 
you may appear before Him pure and spotless. Ee- 




to 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



531 



new, then, with your whole heart, your acts of sorrow 
for all the sins of your past life, and your acts of per- 
fect resignation to suffer, as long as it may please your 
good God, all the inconveniences and pains of sick- 
ness and death itself, in satisfaction for the punish- 
ment you have deserved by your sins. "With these 
dispositions you may entertain a lively confidence, 
that from the liberality of the divine bounty, you 
will obtain the remission of all the punishment due 
to your sins. Yes, firmly hope that this application 
of the superabundant merits of Jesus Christ will can- 
cel your whole debt of temporal punishment, and that 
you will pass from the arms of death into the arms 
of your Saviour and God. 

The principal prayers said by the Priest, immedi- 
ately before giving the Last Benediction, and the 
formula of the Benediction are as follows : 

Let its Pray. 

MOST merciful God, Father of mercies, and 
God of all consolation! Who wishest no 
one to perish that believeth and hopeth in Thee ; 
according to the multitude of Thy mercies, look 
propitiously upon Thy servant, N., whose true 
faith and Christian hope commend him [her] to 
Thy favor. Visit him [her] in Thy salvation, 
and by the passion and death of Thy only- 



532 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



begotten Son, mercifully grant him [her] the 
remission and pardon of all his [her] sins, that 
his [her] soul at the hour of its departure may 
find Thee a favorable judge, and being washed 
from every stain in the blood of Thy same Son, 
may deserve to pass into eternal life : through 
the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. [Here the 
Confiteor is recited by one of the assistants; 
the Priest says, Misereatur, etc, and continues:'] 
May our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living 
God, Who, in His most affectionate mercy, gave 
to the blessed Peter, His Apostle, the power of 
binding and loosing, receive thy confession and 
restore to thee the white robe, which thou didst 
receive in Baptism: and I, by the power im- 
parted to me by the Apostolic See, grant to 
thee the full indulgence and remission of all 
thy sins, in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

By the most sacred mysteries of man's re- 
demption may Almighty God remit to thee all 
the punishment of the present and future life, 
open to thee the gates of Paradise, and lead 
thee to eternal joys. Amen. 

May the Almighty God, Father, Son, and 
Holy Ghost, bless thee. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



533 



Union with the Passion of our Lord, for the 
time of our Agony; 

OMY Saviour ! to ease the agony. I must 
endure, Thou didst suffer a mortal agony 
Thyself, At this moment, my soul is sorrowful 
unto death ; let then the sadness and sorrow of 
Thy agony sanctify mine. Oh ! let the sweat of 
blood, which came from Thy adorable body, 
sanctify my sweat of death ! Support and com- 
fort me, Thy poor child, and grant me a speedy 
deliverance from this agony ; but Thy will, not 
mine, be done. 

0 my Saviour ! Saviour of the greatest sin- 
ners ! Thou receivedst with kindness the kiss of 
Judas, calledst him friend at the moment he be- 
trayed Thee ; Thou didst look with compassion 
on St. Peter, who denied Thee, and didst call 
for pardon on the Jews w T ho crucified Thee. 
Oh ! then, my Saviour, pardon me ; pardon my 
sins of malice like those of Judas, my sins of 
weakness like that of St. Peter, and my sins of 
ignorance like those of the Jews. Thou ceasest 
not to be Saviour, the Friend of sinners, the 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the 



534 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



world: give me then the kiss of peace, which 
Judas did not profit by; the look of mercy, 
which converted St. Peter ; and grant me the 
pardon Thou didst invoke on Thy murderers. 

My Saviour and my God ! do not leave me ; I 
am in the fire of tribulation. I have no conso- 
lation, no help, no salvation but in Thee. Re- 
member Thou didst suffer to save me ; apply to 
me, at this moment, which is to decide my eter- 
nal lot, the merits of the blood Thou didst shed 
for me, that all my sins may be blotted out. 
Let Thy humiliations repair my sins of pride ; 
Thy bldws and wounds my hateful sensualities ; 
Thy obedience unto death, my disobedience and 
revolts. 0 my Saviour! say to me, Thy poor 
sinful child trusting in Thy mercy, what Thou 
didst say to the sinner converted at Thy side : 
This day, Thou shall be with Me in Para- 
dise. Let me hide in Thy wounds and take 
shelter in Thy heart. In this trying hour, say 
to Thy Mother for me : Behold thy child. My 
Jesus ! my God ! into Thy hands I commend 
my spirit. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



535 



Prayers to be Recited by the Assistants 
when a Dying Person Loses the Use op 
Speech. 

m 

IORD Jesus Christ! we beseech Thee, by 
J Thy bitter agony and prayer in the gar- 
den, that Thou wouldst be pleased to be an 
advocate with Thy eternal Father, in behalf of 
this Thy servant. Lay before Him all those 
drops of blood, which, in Thy anguish of spirit, 
flowed from Thy body, and offer them for the 
remission of all his [her] sins ; that, in this hour 
of extremity, he [she] may be discharged from 
that handwriting of sin which stands against 
him [her], and from that punishment which he 
[she] fears to be too justly due to his [her] sins. 
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who for our salvation, 
was pleased to suffer death on the cross; 
we beseech Thee to offer up all the anguish and 
pains which Thou didst then endure, and most 
especially at the hour of Thy death, in behalf 
of this Thy servant, that they may be accepted 
in his [her] favor, for the good of his [her] 



536 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



soul, for the obtaining of a happy hour, and for 
the release from that punishment which he [she] 
has deserved for his [her] sins. 
Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &e. 

LORD Jesus Christ! Who hadst so boundless 
a love for man, that it induced Thee to 
become man for our salvation, we beseech Thee 
to let this Thy infinite charity and goodness 
towards mankind, so plead with Thy eternal 
Father in behalf of this Thy poor servant, that, 
by Thy powerful mediation, his [her] soul, at 
the moment of its departure from the body, 
being freed from the bonds of sin, may find a 
free admittance through the gate that leads to 
the mansions of eternal bliss. 

Our Father, &c. Hail Mary, &c. 

LORD Jesus Christ ! Who by Thy precious 
blood hast redeemed us ; we beseech Thee 
to imprint deeply on the soul of this Thy ser- 
vant the memory of Thy most sacred wounds, 
that having them perpetually in his [her] sight, 
he [she] may be encouraged to suffer with pa- 
tience and resolution, and be armed against all 
the pangs of death. Thus let him [her] cheer- 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 53T 



fully submit to all the difficulties of his [her] 
condition, and begin, even here, to be united to 
Thee with a love that shall never end. 

Grant him [her] now to partake of the fruit 
of Thy holy incarnation, of Thy bitter passion, 
of Thy glorious resurrection and admirable as- 
cension. 

Grant that he [she] may be sensible of the 
effects of Thy holy mysteries and sacraments, 
and of all the prayers which are offered to Thee 
by the whole Church. 

REMEMBER, 0 Lord! that Thou wast 
once in the straits of death; that in 
this extremity, after crying out to Thy eternal 
Father, and commending Thy spirit to Him, 
Thou didst expire. Behold now this Thy ser- 
vant in his [her] anguish crying aloud to Thee ; 
stand Thou by him [her], defend and comfort 
him [her] in this his [her] distress, and receive 
his [her] soul into Thy merciful embraces. 

REMEMBER, 0 Jesus! that Thy arms 
were stretched forth, Thy side opened, 
and Thy sacred head bowed down on the cross ; 
have regard now, we beseech Thee, for the soul 



£38 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



of this Thy servant, which departing out of this 
world, seeks refuge in Thee ; receive it into Thy 
arms, clasp it to Thy breast, and there let it hide 
itself, secure from the attacks of all its enemies, 
till the anger of God pass over. Into Thy hands 
we commend his [her] spirit, which has been 
created and redeemed by Thee ; despise not, we 
beseech Thee, the work of Thy hands. 

O CHRIST Jesus! Who wast crucified for 
our redemption ! we beseech Thee, by 
that love which brought Thee from heaven, to 
have compassion on the soul of this Thy ser- 
vant ; forgive him [her] all his [her] sins, and 
by the merits of Thy bitter passion, satisfy for 
all his [her] failings, and supply his [her] de- 
fects. Lord! let him [her] now experience the 
multitude of Thy tender mercies, and be sensible 
of Thy infinite goodness. Dispose his [her] 
soul by Thy grace, that she may be prepared at 
Thy call to go forth to meet Thee her heavenly 
bridegroom ; grant him [her], we beseech Thee, 
true patience and perfect resignation in his [her] 
pains and anguish ; give him [her] a full dis- 
charge from all his [her] sins ; confirm his [her] 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



539 



faith ; strengthen .his [her] hope, and perfect his 
[her] charity, that, departing hence, his [her] 
soul may be received into Thy mercy. 0 dear 
Redeemer! by that distress which Thou didst 
suffer on the cross, when Thou criedst out to 
Thy eternal Father, we pray Thee to show 
mercy to this Thy servant, iri his [her] ex- 
tremity : hear the desires of his [her] heart ; and 
since he [she] is now deprived of the faculty of 
speech, speak Thou for him [her], we beseech 
Thee, Who art the eternal Word, and to Whom 
the Father will refuse nothing. 

BY Thy victory over death, and the infinite 
merits of Thy passion, we beseech Thee, 
in behalf of this Thy servant, to send thoughts 
of peace, mercy and comfort, and not those of 
affliction. Bear him [her] up against all dis- 
trust and despair, deliver him [her] from his 
[her] necessities, and be his [her] comforter in 
his [her] distress. Let those hands which were 
once nailed to the cross, now plead for him [her] 
and obtaining his [her] pardon, conduct him 
[her] into Thy eternal rest. Amen. 



540 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



The Recommendation of a Soul Departing 

LORD, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Holy Mary, Pray for him [her]. 
All ye holy Angels and Archangels, 
Holy Abel, 

All ye choirs of the just, 
Holy Abraham, 
St. John the Baptist, 
St. Joseph, 

All ye patriarchs and prophets, 
St. Peter, 
St. Paul, 
St. Andrew, 
St* John, 

All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, 

All ye holy disciples of our Lord, 

All ye holy Innocents, 

St. Stephen, 

St. Lawrence, 

All ye holy martyrs, 

St. Sylvester, 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



541 



pa 



St. Gregory, 
St. Augustine, 

All ye holy bishops and confessors ; 
St. Benedict, 
St. Francis, \ g£ 

All ye holy monks and hermits, 
St. Mary Magdalen, 
St. Lucy, 

All ye holy virgins and widows, 
All ye Saints of God, make intercession for him 
[her]. 

Be merciful, Spare him [her], 0 Lord ! 
Be merciful, Deliver him [her], 0 Lord! 
Be merciful, Receive him [her], 0 Lord! 
From Thy anger, 
From the danger of death, 
From an ill end, 
From the pains of hell, 
From all evil, 

From the power of the devil, 
Through Thy nativity, 
Through Thy cross and passion, 
Through Thy death and burial, 
Through Thy glorious resurrection, 
Through Thy admirable ascension, 



(T> 



542 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



Through the grace of the Holy Ghost, the Com- 
forter, Deliver him [her], 0 Lord ! 

In the clay of judgment, Deliver him [her], 0 
Lord! 

We, sinners, beseech Thee to hear us. 
That Thou spare him [her], We beseech Thee to 
hear us. 

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy 
us. 

Lord, have mercy on us. 

Let us Pray. 

DEPART, 0 Christian soul! out of this 
miserable world, in the name of God 
the Father Almighty, Who created thee ; in the 
name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living 
God, Who suffered for thee ; in the name of 
the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified thee ; in the 
name of the Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dom- 
inations, Cherubim and Seraphim ; in the name 
of the patriarchs and prophets, of the holy 
Apostles and evangelists, of the holy martyrs 
and confessors, of the holy monks and her- 
mits, of the holy virgins, and of all the saints 
of God ; let thy place be this day in peace, 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



543 



and thy abode in holy Sion ; through Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 

GOD of clemency! God of goodness! 0 
God ! Who, according to the multitude 
of Thy mercies, forgivest the sins of such as 
repent, and graciously remittest the guilt of 
their past offences, mercifully regard this Thy 
servant, N. t and grant him [her] a full discharge 
from all his [her] sins, who most earnestly begs 
it of Thee. Renew, 0 most merciful Father ! 
whatever is corrupt in him [her] through human 
frailty, or by the snares of the enemy ; make 
him [her] a true member of the Church, and 
let him [her] partake of the fruit of Thy 
redemption. Have compassion, 0 Lord ! on 
his [her] tears, and admit him [her] to 
the sacrament of Thy reconciliation, who 
has no hope but in Thee ; through Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

I RECOMMEND thee, dear brother [sister], 
to Almighty God, and commit thee to His 
mercy, Whose creature thou art ; that having 
paid the common debt by surrendering thy soul, 
thou mayest return to thy Maker, Who formed 



544 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



thee out of the earth. May therefore, the noble , 
company of Angels meet thy soul at its depar- 
ture ; may the court of the Apostles receive 
thee ; may the triumphant army of glorious 
martyrs conduct thee ; may the crowd of joyful 
confessors encompass thee ; may the choir of 
blessed virgins go before thee ; and may a 
happy rest be thy portion in the company of 
the patriarchs. May Jesus Christ appear to 
thee with a mild and cheerful countenance, and 
give thee a place among those who are to be iu 
His presence forever. Mayest thou be a stranger 
to all who are condemned to darkness, chastised 
with flames, and punished with torments. May 
God command thy wicked enemy, with all his 
evil spirits, to depart from thee. At thy ap- 
proach, encompassed by angels, may the infernal 
spirits tremble and retire into the horrid confu- 
sion of eternal night. May thy God arise, and 
thy enemies be put to flight. May all who hate 
Him, fly before His face ; let them vanish like 
smoke ; or as wax before the fire, so let sinners 
perish in the sight of God. But as to the just, 
let them rejoice and be happy in His presence. 
May all the ministers of hell be filled with con- 
fusion and shame, and let no evil spirit dare to 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



545 



stop thy course to heaven. May Christ Jesus, 
Who was crucified for thee, deliver thee from 
torments ; may He deliver thee from eternal 
death, Who for Thy sake vouchsafed to die. 
May Christ Jesus, the Son of the living God, 
place thee in His garden of Paradise ; and may 
He, the true Shepherd, own thee for one of His 
flock. May He absolve thee from all thy sins, and 
place thee at His right hand, in the inheritance 
of His elect. Oh ! may it be thy happy lot to be- 
hold thy Redeemer face to face ; to be ever in His 
presence, in the beatific vision of that Eternal 
Truth, which is the joy of the blessed. And thus 
placed among those happy spirits, mayest thou be 
forever filled with heavenly sweetness. Amen. 

Receive Thy servant, 0 Lord ! into that place, 
where he [she] may hope for salvation from Thy 
mercy. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant 
from all the dangers of hell, and from all pain 
and tribulation. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliverdst Enoch and Elias from the com- 
mon death of the world. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord.! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Noah in the flood. Amen. 
35 



546 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Abraham from the midst of the 
Chaldeans. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Job from all his afflictions, 

Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Isaac from being sacrificed by 
his father. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Lot from Sodom, and the 
flames of fire. Amen. 

Deliver, O Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Moses from the hands of Pha- 
roah, king of Egypt. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Daniel from the lions' den. 

A men. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst the three children from the 
fiery furnace, and from the hands of an unmer- 
ciful king. A.men. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Susanna from her false accu- 
sers. Amen. • 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst David from the hands of Saul 
and Goliah. Amen. 

Deliver, 0 Lord ! the soul of Thy servant, as 
Thou deliveredst Peter and Paul out of prison. 



And as Thou deliveredst that blessed virg'n 
and martyr, St. Tliecla, from most cruel tor- 
ments, so vouchsafe to deliver the soul of this 
Thy servant, and bring it to the participation 
of Thy heavenly joys. Amen. 



E commend to Thee, 0 Lord ! the soul 



Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the world ! that, as 
in Thy mercy to him [her], Thou becamest man, 
so now Thou wouldst vouchsafe to admit him 
[her] into the number of the blessed. Remem- 
ber, 0 Lord ! that he [she] is Thy creature, not 
made by strange gods, but by Thee, the only 
true and living God; for there is no other God 
but Thee, and none can work Thy wonders. 
Let his [her] soul find comfort in Thy sight, 
and remember not his [her] former sins, nor 



Amen. 



Let us Pray. 




of Thy servant, and beseech Thee, 0 



518 DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



any of those excesses which he [she] has fallen 
into, through the violence of passion and cor- 
ruption. For although he [she] has sinned, yet 
he [she] has still retained a true faith in Thee, 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost; he [she] has had 
a zeal for Thy honor, and faithfully adored Thee, 
his [her] God, and the Creator of all things. 

EMEMBER not, 0 Lord! the sins and 
ignorances of his [her] youth ; but ac- 
cording to Thy great mercy, be mindful of him 
[her] in Thy eternal glory. Let the heavens 
be opened to him [her], and let the Angels 
rejoice with him [her]. May St. Michael, the 
Archangel, the chief of the heavenly host, con- 
duct him [her] ; may blessed Peter, the Apos- 
tle, to whom were given the keys of the kingdom 
of heaven, receive him [her] ; may holy Paul, 
the Apostle, and chosen vessel of election, assist 
him [her] ; may St. John, the beloved disciple, 
to whom the secrets of heaven were revealed, 
intercede for him [her]; may all the holy Apos- 
tles, to whom was given the power of binding 
and loosing, pray for him [her] ; may all the 
chosen servants and blessed martyrs of God, 
who, in this world, have suffered torments for 




DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



549 



the sake of Christ, intercede for him [her] ; 
that, being delivered from this body of corrup- 
tion, he [she] may be admitted into the king- 
dom of heaven: through the assistance and 
merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth 
and reigneth with the Father and the Holy 
Ghost: world without end. Amen. 

If the sick person continues in distress of agony, it 
may be proper for the assistants to continue in prayer, 
repeating the preceding prayers, or saying the Peni- 
tential Psalms. 

When the soul has departed, the following Eespon- 
sory is to be said : 

COME to his [her] assistance, all ye Saints 
of God; meet him [her], all ye Angels 
of God ; receive his [her] soul, and present it 
now before its Lord. May Jesus Christ receive 
him [her], and the Angels conduct him [her] 
to his [her] place of rest ; may they receive 
his [her] soul, and present it now before its 
Lord. 

Eternal rest grant him [her], 0 Lord ! 
and let perpetual light shine upon him [her]. 
May the Angels present him [her] now before 
the Lord. 



550 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Our Father, &c. 

rf. And lead us not into temptation. 

Bat deliver us from evil. 
y. Eternal rest grant him [her], 0 Lord ! 
|&. And let perpetual light shine upon him 
[her.] 

y. From the gates of hell, ? 

Deliver his [her] soul, 0 Lord ! 
y. May he [she] rest in peace. 

Amen. 

y . 0 Lord, hear my prayer ; 

And let my cry come unto Thee. 



Let us Pray. 

TO Thee, 0 Lord f we recommend the soul 
of Thy servant N., that being dead to 
this world, he [she] may live to Thee; and 
whatever sins he [she] has committed through 
human frailty, we beseech Thee, in Thy good- 
ness, mercifully to pardon: through Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE SICK. 



551 



Then the following prayer for the assistants may be 
added : 

GRANT, 0 Lord! that, while we here 
lament the departure of Thy servant, we 
may ever remember that we are most certainly 
to follow him [her]. Give us grace to prepare 
for that last hour, by a good life, that we may 
not be surprised by a sudden death ; but be ever 
watching when Thou shalt call, that so with the 
Spouse, we may enter into eternal glory: through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 



rflHEEE are few prayers so capable of disarming 
the justice of God, as the Penitential Psalms. 
"We should endeavor to enter into the sentiments of 
compunction, love, devotedness, admiration, and con- 
fidence, with which the Royal Prophet was penetrated 
when he composed them. 

He often speaks of the enemies who persecuted him, 
and these expressions may readily be applied to the 
the devil and to sin. 

Anthem. 

EMEMBER not, 0 Lord ! our offences, 
nor those of our parents, and take not 
revenge on our sins. 

Psalm VI. Domine ne in furore. 

1. David, in deep affliction, prays for a mitigation 
of the divine anger j 4, in consideration of God's 
mercy ; 5, his glory ; 6, his own repentance ; 8, by 
faith triumphs over his enemies. 

OLORD ! rebuke me not in Thy indigna- 
tion, nor chastise me in Thy wrath. 
Have mercy on me, 0 Lord ! for I am weak : 
heal me, 0 Lord ! for my bones are troubled. 

And my soul is troubled exceedingly : but 
Thou, O Lord ! how long ? 
552 




THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 



553 



Turn to me, 0 Lord ! and deliver my soul : 

0 save me for thy mercy's sake. 

For there is no one in death, that is mindful 
of Thee : and who shall confess to Thee in hell ? 
I have labored in my groanings, every night 

1 will wash my bed: I will wash my couch with 
my tears. 

My eye is troubled through indignation : I 
have grown old amongst all my enemies. 

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity : 
for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weep- 
ing. 

The Lord hath heard my supplication : the 
Lord hath received my prayer. 

Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very 
much troubled : let them be turned back, and 
be ashamed very speedily. 

Glory be, &c. 

Psalm XXXI. Beati quorum. 

1. Blessings of remission of sins ; 3, misery of im- 
penitence ; 6, confession of sins bringeth ease ; 8, 
safety ; 14, joy. 

BLESSED are they whose iniquities are for- 
given, and whose sins are covered. 



554 TOE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath 
not imputed sin, and in whose spirit there is no 
guile. 

Because I was silent my bones grew old; 
whilst I cried out all the day long. 

For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon 
me: I am turned in my anguish, whilst the 
thorn is fastened. 

I have acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my 
injustice I have not concealed. 

I said I will confess against myself my in- 
justice to the Lord : and Thou hast forgiven the 
wickedness of my sin. 

For this shall every one that is holy pray to 
Thee in a seasonable time. 

And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall 
not come nigh unto Him. 

Thou art my refuge from the trouble which 
hath encompassed me : my joy, deliver me from 
them that surround me. 

I will give Thee understanding, and I will 
instruct Thee in this way, in which Thou shalt 
go : I will fix my eyes upon Thee. 

Do not become like the horse and the mule, 
who have no understanding. 

With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who 
come not near unto Thee. 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 555 

Many are the scourges of the sinner, but 
mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the 
Lord. 

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and 
glory, all ye right of heart. 
Glory be, &c. 

Psalm XXXYII. Domine, ne in furore. 

1. David's extreme anguish; 15, he hoped in God; 
18, his resignation, grief ; 22, fervent prayer. 

REBUKE me not, 0 Lord, in Thy indigna- 
tion ; nor chastise me in Thy wrath. 
For Thy arrows are fastened in me : and Thy 
hand hath been strong upon me. 

There is no health in my flesh, because of Thy 
wrath : there is no peace for my bones, because 
of my sins. 

For my iniquities are gone over my head : 
and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon 
me. 

My sores are putrefied and corrupted, because 
of my foolishness. 

I am become miserable, and am bowed down 
even to the end ; I walked sorrowful all the day 
long. 



55G THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 

For ray loins are filled with illusions ; and 
there is no health in my flesh. 

I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I 
roared with the groaning of my heart. 

Lord, all my desire is before Thee, and my 
groaning is not hidden from Thee. 

My heart is troubled, my strength hath left 
me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me. 

My friends and my neighbors have drawn 
near, and stood against me. 

And they that were near me stood afar off : 
and they that sought my soul used violence. 

And they that sought evils to me spoke vain 
things, and studied deceits all the day long. 

But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a 
dumb man not opening his mouth. 

And I became as a man that heareth not: 
and that hath no reproofs in his mouth. 

For in Thee, 0 Lord ! have I hoped : Thou 
wilt hear me, 0 Lord my God ! 

For I said : Lest at any time my enemies re- 
joice over me : and whilst my feet are moved, 
they speak great things against me. 

For I am ready for scourges ; and my sorrow 
is continually before me. 

For I will declare my iniquity: and I will 
think for my sin. 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS 557 



But my enemies live, and are stronger than I : 
and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 

They that render evil for good, have detracted 
me, because I followed goodness. 

Forsake me not, 0 Lord, my God ! do not 
Thou depart from me. ♦ 

Attend unto my help, 0 Lord! the God of 
my salvation. 

Glory be, &c. 

Psalm L. Miserere. 

1. David prayeth for remission of his sins; 8, for 
perfect sanctity ; 17, God delighteth less in sacri- 
fice than in a contrite heart; 19, David prayeth 
for the building of a temple in Jerusalem, figura- 
tively, the exaltation of the Church. 

HAVE mercy on me, 0 God ! according to 
Thy great mercy. 
And according to the multitude of Thy tender 
mercies, blot out my iniquity : 

Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and 
cleanse me from my sin. 

For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always 
before me. 

To Thee only have I sinned, and have done 
evil before Thee: that Thou mayest be justified 



558 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 



in Thy words, and mayest overcome when Thou 
art judged. 

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities; and 
in sins did my mother conceive me. 

For behold, Thou hast loved truth: the uncer- 
tain and hidden things of Thy wisdom Thou 
hast made manifest to me. 

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I 
shall be cleansed: Thou shalt wash me, and I 
shall be made whiter than snow. 

To my hearing Thou shalt give joy and glad- 
ness ; and the bones that have been humbled 
shall rejoice. 

Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot 
out all my iniquities. 

Create a clean heart in me, 0 God ! and 
renew a right spirit within my bowels. 

Cast me not away from Thy face; and take 
not Thy holy spirit from me. 

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and 
strengthen me with a perfect spirit. 

I will teach the unjust Thy ways: and the 
wicked shall be converted to Thee. 

Deliver me from blood, O God! Thou God 
of my salvation : and my tongue shall extol Thy 
justice. 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 559 



0 Lord ! Thou wilt open my lips : and my 
mouth shall declare Thy praise. 

For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would 
indeed have given it : with burnt offerings Thou 
wilt not be delighted. 

A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit : a con- 
trite and humbled heart, 0 God ! Thou wilt not 
despise. 

Deal favorably, 0 Lord ! in Thy good-will 
with Sion ; that the walls of Jerusalem may be 
built up. 

Then shalt Thou accept the sacrifice of jus- 
tice, oblations and whole burnt offering's: then 
shall they lay calves upon Thy altar. 

Glory be, &c. 

Psalm CI. Domine exaudi. 

1. The extreme affliction of the psalmist; 12, the 
eternity and mercy of God ; 19, to be recorded and 
praised by future generation ; 2Q. the unchange- 
ableness of God. 

HEAB, 0 Lord! my prayer; and let my 
cry come to Thee. 
Turn not away Thy face from me : in the day 
when I am in trouble, incline Thy ear to me, 



560 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 



In what day soever I shall call upon Thee, 
hear me speedily. 

For my days are vanished like smoke : and 
my bones have grown dry like fuel for the fire. 

I am smitten as grass, and my heart is with- 
ered : because I forgot to eat my bread. 

Through the voice of my groaning, my bone 
hath cleaved to my flesh. 

I am become like to a pelican of the wilder- 
ness : I am like a night-raven in the house. 

I have watched and am become as a sparrow 
all alone on the house-top. 

All the day long my enemies reproached me : 
and they that praised me clidst swear against 
me. 

For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled 
my drink with weeping. 

Because of Thy anger and indignation : for 
having lifted me up Xhou hast thrown me down. 

My days have declined like a shadow, and I 
am withered like grass. 

But Thou, 0 Lord! endurest for ever: and 
Thy memorial to all generations. 

Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion for 
it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is 
come. 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 561 

For the stones thereof have pleased Thy ser- 
vants : and they shall have pity on the earth 
thereof. 

And the gentiles shall fear Thy name, 0 
Lord ! and all the kings of the earth Thy glory. 

For the Lord hath built up Sion : and He 
shall be seen in His glory. 

He hath had regard to the prayer of the hum- 
ble and He hath not despised their petition. 

Let these things be written unto another gen- 
eration : and the people that shall be created 
shall praise the Lord : 

Because he hath looked forth from His high 
sanctuary: from heaven the Lord hath looked 
upon the earth : 

That he might hear the groans of them that 
are in fetters : that he might release the chil- 
dren of the slain : 

That they may declare the name of the Lord 
in Sion : and His praise in Jerusalem. 

When the people assemble together, and kings, 
to serve the Lord, 

He answered him in the way of his strength : 
Declare unto me the fewness of my days. 

Call me not away in the midst of my days : 
Thy years are unto generation and generation. 
36 



562 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 



In the beginning, O Lord ! Thou foundedst 
the earth : and the heavens are the works of 
Thy hands. 

They shall perish, but Thou remainest: and 
all of them shall grow old like a garment : 

And as a vesture Thou shalt change them, 
and they shall be changed. But Thou art 
always the self-same, and Thy years shall not 
fail. 

The children of Thy servants shall continue : 
and their seed shall be directed forever. 
Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Psalm CXXIX. De profundis. 

An excellent model for sinners imploring the divine 
mercy. ' 




TJT of the depths, I have cried to Thee, 0 
Lord ! Lord, hear my voice. 



Let Thy ears be attentive to the voice of my 
supplication. 

If Thou, 0 Lord ! wilt mark iniquities ; Lord, 
who shall stand it ? 

For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness ; 
and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for 
Thee, 0 Lord ! 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 563 



My soul hath relied on His word: my soul 
hath hoped in the Lord. 

From the morning watch even until night, let 
Israel hope in the Lord. 

Because with the Lord there is mercy: and 
with Him plentiful redemption. 

And He shall redeem Israel from all his in- 
iquities. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

Psalm CXLII. Domine exaudi. 

1. David prayeth for favor in judgment ; 3, repre- 
sents his distress ; 7, he prayeth for grace ; 9, for 
deliverance; 10, for sanctiflcation ; 12, victory over 
his enemies. 

HEAR, 0 Lord ! my prayer : give ear to 
my supplication in Thy truth: hear me 
in Thy justice. 

And enter not into judgment with Thy ser- 
vant; for in Thy sight no man living shall be 
justified. 

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul : he 
hath brought down my life to the earth. 

He hath made me to dwell in darkness as 
those that have been dead of old: and my spirit 
is in anguish within me : my heart within me is 
troubled. 



5G4 THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 



I remembered the days of old, I meditated on 
all Thy works : I meditated upon the works of 
Thy hands. 

I stretched forth my hands to Thee: my soul 
is as earth without water unto Thee. 

Hear me speedily, 0 Lord! my spirit hath 
fainted away. 

Turn not away Thy face from me, lest I be 
like unto them that go down into the pit. 

Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning; 
for in Thee have I hoped. 

Make known to me the way wherein I should 
walk : for I have lifted up my soul to Thee. 

Deliver me from my enemies, 0 Lord ! to 
Thee have I fled : teach me to do Thy will, for 
Thou art my God. 

Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right 
land: for Thy name's sake, 0 Lord! Thou wilt 
quicken me in Thy justice. 

Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble : and 
in Thy mercy Thou wilt destroy my enemies. 

And Thou wilt cut off ail them that afflict my 
soul : for I am Thy servant. 

Glorv be to the Father, &c. 

Antli. Remember not, 0 Lord ! our offences, 
nor those of our parents, and take not revenge 
of our sins. 



MANNER OF ANSWERING MASS. 



INTROIBO ad altare Dei. 
C. Ad Deum qui ketificat juventutem meam. 
P. Judica me .... et doloso erne me. 
C. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitude* mea ; quare 
me repulisti et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit 
me inimicus ? 

P. Emitte .... et in tabernacula tua. 
C. Et introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui 
lastiticat juventutem meam. 

P. Confitebor . . . et quare eonturbas me 1 
C. Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor 
illi, salutare vultus mei, et Deus mens. 

P. Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. 
C. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, 
et in sa3cula sasculorurn. Amen. 
*P. Introibo ad altare Dei. 
C. Ad Deum qui lastificat javen|utem meam. 
P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. 
C. Qui fecit ccelum et terrain. 
P. Confiteor, &c. 

C. Misereatnr tui, omnipotens Deus, et, dimis- 
sis peecatis tuis, perducat te ad yitam ceternam. 
P. Amen. 

G. Confiteor Deo omnipotent], beats Mariae 
semper virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, bea- 
to Joanni Baptists?, Sanctis Apostolus, Petro et 
Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi, Pater, quia pec- 
cavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere : mea 
culpa, mea culpa mea maxima culpa. Icleo pre- 
cor beatam Mariam, semper virginem, beatum 



* Berlin here, in Ha^st-a for the Dead. 



566 MANNER OF ANSWERING MASS. 



Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Bap- 
tistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrurn et Paulum, 
omnes Sanctos, et te, Pater, orare pro me, ad 
Dominum, Deum nostrum. 

P. Misereatur vestri .... aeternam. 

G. Amen. 

P. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos. 
0. Et plebs tua laetabitur in te. 
P. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam ta- 
am. 

G. Et salutare tuum, da nobis. 
P. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. 
G. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. 
P. Dominus vobiscum. 
G. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

(After the Introit.) 
P. Kyrie eleison. 
G. Kyrie eleison. 
P. Kyrie eleison. 
G. Christe eleison. 
P. Christe eleison. 
G. Christe eleison. 
P. Kyrie eleison. 
G. Kyrie eleison. 
P. Kyrie eleison. 

(After the Gloria.) 
P. Dominus vobiscum. 
G. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

(At the end of the Collect.) 
P. Per omnia saecula SDeculorum. 
C. Amen. 



MANNER OF ANSWERING MASS. 567 

(After the Epistle.) 
G. Deo gratias. 

(Before the Gospel.) 

P. Dominus vobiscum. 

G. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

P. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum N. 

C. Gloria tibi, Domine. 

(After the Gospel.) 

C. Laus tibi, Christe. 
P. Dominus vobiscum. 
G. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

(After the Lavabo.) 

P. Orate fratres . . . Deum nostrum. 

G. Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium, de mani- 
bus tuis, ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, ad 
utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque ecclesiae 
suae sancta3. 

(At the Preface.) 

P. Per omnia saecula saeeuloruni. 

G- Amen. 

P. Dominus vobiscum. 

G. Et cum spiritu tuo, 

P. Sursum corda. 

C, Habemus ad Dominum. 

P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. 

C. Dignum et justuni est. 

(At sanctus, sanetus, sanctus. &c, ring the little bell. 
Before the Consecration, when the Priest spreads 
his hands over the chalice, ring it again, also dur- 
ing the Elevation.) 



568 MANNER OF ANSWERING MASS. 

(At the Pater.) 
P. Per omnia soecula sseculorum. 

G. Amen. 

P. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. 
G. Sed libera nos a malo. 

(Before the Agnus Dei.) 
P. Per omnia sascula sseculorum. 
G. Amen. 

P. Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum. 
C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

(At the Domine rion sum dignus, ring the bell three 
times. After the Post Communion.) 

P. Per omnia sascula soeculorum. 
G. Amen. 

P. Dominus vobiscum. 

G. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

P. Ite, Missa est, or Benedicamus Domino. 

C. Deo gratias. 

(In Masses for the Dead.) 
P. Requiesca'nt in pace. G. Amen. 
(Blessing.) 

P. Benedicat vos . . . Spiritus sanctus. 
G. Amen. 

(Before the last Gospel.) 

P. Dominus vobiscum. 
C. Et cum spiritu tuo. 

P. Initium sancti Evangelii, secundum Joan- 
nem. 

G. Gloria tibi, Domine. 

(After the Gospel.) 
G. Deo gratias. 



VESPERS; 



OE, THE EVENING OFFICE. 



BESIDES hearing Mass on Sundays and Holydays, you 
ought also to be present at Vespers, and the other 
public offices of the Church, as far as your convenience 
■will permit. For, as these days are dedicated to God, 
we ought to perforin more acts to Ills honor and glory 
on them than on other days. By this means, you will 
experience the sweetness of devotion, as St. Austin did, 
who testifies in his confessions, that hearing the divine 
office in the beginning of his conversion, his heart melted 
into tenderness and his eyes into tears of piety. And, 
indeed, there is always more benefit and comfort to be 
derived from the public offices of the Church, than from 
private devotions ; God having ordained, that communion 
of prayers should always have the preference. {St. 
Francis de Sales.) 

For Sundays. 
Pater noster, &c. Our Father, &c. 

Ave Maria, &c. Hail Mary, &c. 

DEUS, in adjutori- TNCLINE unto my 
um meum intende. JL aid, 0 God! 
R. Domine, ad adju- R. 0 Lord ! make 
vandum me festina. baste to help me. 

V. Gloria Patri, et V. Glory be to the 
Filio, et Spiritui sane- Father and to the Son, 
to. and to the Holy Ghost. 

R. Sicuterat inpriu- R. As it was in 
cipio, et nunc, et sem- the beginning, is now, 



VESPERS. 



570 

per, et in ssscula sse- 
culomm. Amen. Alle- 
luia. From Septua- 
gesima Sunday till 
Holy Thursday: Laus 
tibi, Do mine, Rex 
seternzE gloriae. 

Psalmtjs 109 

DIXIT Dominus Do- 
mino meo: * Sede 
a dextris meis : 

Donee ponam ini mi- 
cos tuos, * scabellum 
pedum tuorum. 

Virgam virtu tis tuae 
emittet Dominus ex 
Sion: * dominare in 
medio inimicorum tuo- 
rum. 

Tecum principium 
in die virtutis tuae in 
splendoribus sancto- 
rum : * exutero ante 
luciferum genui te. 



and ever shall be, 
world without end; 
Amen. Alleluia. From 
Septuagesima Sunday 
till Holy Thursday : 
Praise be to Thee, 0 
Lord! King of eternal 
glory. 

Psalm 109. 

THE Lord said to 
my Lord : Sit 
Thou at My right 
hand, 

Until I make Thy 
enemies Thy footstool. 

The Lord will send 
forth the sceptre of 
Thy power out of Sion: 
rule Thou in the midst 
of Thy enemies. 

With Thee is the 
principality in the day 
of Thy strength ; in 
the brightness of the 
saints : from the womb 
before the day-star I 
begot Thee. 



VESPERS. 



571 



Juravit Dominus et 
noii pcenitebit eum : * 
Tu es sacerdos in jje ter- 
mini secundum ordi- 
nem Melchisedech. 

Dominus a dextris 
tuis, * confregit, in 
die irse suae reges. 

Judicabitin nationi- 
bus, implebit ruinas: * 
conquassabit capita 
in terra mul tor um. 

De torrente in via 
bibet: * propterea ex- 
altabit caput. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

PSALMUS 110. 

pONPITEBOE tibi, 
Domine, in toto 
corde meo : * in con- 
ciiio jus tor um, et con- 
gregatione. 



The Lord hath 
sworn, and lie will not 
repent : Thou art a 
priest for ever accord- 
ing to the order of 
Melchisedech. 

The Lord at Thy 
right hand hath bro- 
ken kings in the day 
of His wrath. 

He shall judge 
among nations ; He 
shall fill ruins: He 
shall crush the heads 
in the land of many. 

He shall drink of 
the torrent in the 
way: therefore shall 
He lift up the head. 

Glory be to the Fa- 
ther, &c. 

Psalm 110. 

I WILL praise Thee, 
0 Lord! with my 
whole heart ; in the 
council of the just 
and in the congrega- 
tion. 



572 



VESPERS. 



Magna opera Domi- 
ni: * exquisite in orn- 
nes voluntates ejus. 

Confessio et magni- 
fies nti a opus ejus: * et 
justitia ejus inane t in 
saeculum saeculi. 

Memoriara fecit rai- 
rabilium suorum, mise- 
ricors et miserator Do- 
minus: * escam declit 
timentibus se. 

Memorerit in saecu- 
lum testament! sui: * 
virtutem operum suo- 
rum annuntiabit popu- 
lo suo: 

Utdetillis hseredita- 
tem gentium: * opera 
inanuum ejus, Veritas 
et judicium. 

Fidelia omnia man- 
data ejus: confirmata 



Great are the works 
of the Lord ; sought 
out according to all 
His wills. 

His work is praise 
and magnificence: and 
His justice continueth 
for ever and ever. 

He hath made a 
remembrance of His 
wonderful work s, 
being a merciful and 
gracious Lord : He 
hath given food to 
them that fear Him. 

lie will be mindful 
for ever of His cove- 
nant : He will show 
forth to His people the 
power of His works : 

That He may give 
them the inheritance 
of the Gentiles : the 
works of His hands 
are truth and judg- 
ment. 

All His command- 
ments are faithful, con- 



VESPERS. 



in sseculum saeculi ; * 
facta in veritate et 
sequitate. 

Kedemptionem mi sit 
populo suo: * manda- 
vit in seternurn testa- 
mentum suum. 

Sanctum et terribile 
nomen ejus : * initiurn 
sapiential timor Domi- 
ni. 

Intellecius bonus 
omnibus facientibus 
eurn : * laudatio ejus 
manet in sseculum 
sseculi. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

Psalmus 111. 

BEATUS vir, qui ti- 
met Dominum : * 
inmandatis ejus volet 
nimis. 

Potens in terra erit 
semen ejus: * genera- 



firmed for ever and 
ever, made in truth 
and equity. 

He hath sent re- 
demption to His peo- 
ple : He hath com- 
manded His covenant 
for ever. 

Holy and terrible is 
His name : the fear of 
the Lord is the begin- 
ning" of wisdom. 

A good understand- 
ing to all that do it: 
His praise continue th 
for ever and ever. 

Glory, &c. 

Psalm 111. 

BLESSED is the 
man that feareth 
the Lord : he shall de- 
light exceedingly in 
His commandments. 

His seed shall be 
mighty upon earth ; 
the generation of the 



5*4 



VESPERS. 



tio rectorum benedice- 
tur. 

Gloria et divitioe in 
dorao ejus : et justitia 
ejus manet in saaculum 
soeculi. 

Exortum est in tene- 
bris lumen rectis : mi- 
sericors, et miserator, 
et just us. 

Jucundus homo qui 
miseretur et commo- 
dat, disponet sermones 
suos in judicio: * quia 
in seternum non com- 
movebitur. 

In memoria seterna 
erit justus : * ab audi- 
tione rnala non timebit. 

Paratum cor ejus 
seperare in Domino, 
conflrmatum est cor 
ejus : * non commove- 
bitur donee despiciat 
in i mi cos suos. 



righteous shall be 
blessed. 

Glory and wealth 
shall be in his house : 
and his justice remain- 
eth for ever and ever. 

To the righteous a 
light is risen up in 
darkness: He is mer- 
ciful and compassion- 
ate and just. 

Acceptable is the 
man that showeth 
mercy and lendeth : 
he shall order his 
words with judgment: 
because he shall not 
be moved for ever. 

The just shall be 
in everlasting remem- 
brance: he shall not 
fear the evil hearing. 

His heart is ready 
to hope in the Lord: 
his heart is strength- 
ened; he shall not be 
moved until he look 
down on his enemies. 



VESPERS. 



575 



Dispersit, dedit pau- 
peribus : justitia ejus 
manet in sseculum sse- 
culi, * cornu ejus exal- 
tabitur in gloria. 

Peccator videbit, et 
irascetur ; dentibus 
suis fremet et tabes- 
cet : * desiderum pec- 
catorum peribit. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

PSALMUS 112. 

LAUDATE, pueri, 
Dominum : * lau- 
date nomen Domini. 

Sit nomen Domini 
benedictum, * ex hoc 
nunc, et usque in see- 
culum. 

A solis ortu usque 
ad occasuin, * lauda- 
bilc nomen Domini. 



He hath distributed, 
he hath given to the 
poor : his justice re- 
main eth for ever and 
ever : his horn shall 
be exalted in glory. 

The wicked shall 
see, and shall be 
angry ; he shall gnash 
with his teeth, and 
pine away : the desire 
of the wicked shall 
perish. 

Glory, &c. 

Psalm 112. 

PRAISE the Lord, 
ye children : praise 
ye the name of the 
Lord. 

Blessed be the name 
of the Lord, from 
henceforth now and 
for ever. 

From the rising of 
the sun unto the going 
down of the same, the 
name of the Lord is 
worthy of praise. 



576 



VESPERS. 



Excelsus super om- 
nes gentes Dominus, * 
et super ccelos gloria 
ejus. 

Quis sicut Dominus 
Deus noster, qui in 
altis habitat, * et hu- 
rnilia respicit in cceio 
et in terra ? 

Suscitans a terra in- 
opem, * et de stercore 
erigens pauperem : 

Ut collecct eum cum 
principibus, * cum 
principibus populi sui. 

Qui habitare facit 
sterilem in domo, * ma- 
trem filiorunv la)tan- 
tem. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 
PsAL^rcs 113. 

IX exitu Israel de 
JEgypto, * domus 
Jacob de populo bar- 
baro. 



The Lord is high 
above all nations ; and 
His glory above the 
heavens. 

Who is as the Lord 
our God, who dwelleth 
on high, and looketh 
down on the low things 
in heaven and earth ? 

Raising up the needy 
from the earth, and 
lifting up the poor out 
of the dunghill : 

That He may place 
him with princes, with 
the princes of His peo- 
ple. 

Who maketh the 
barren woman to dwell 
in a house, the joyful 
mother of children. 
Glory, &c. 
Psalm 113. 
TTTHEN Israel went 
1 1 out of Egypt, 
the house of Jacob 
from a barbarous peo- 
ple : 



VESPERS. 



Facta est Judaea 
sanctificatio ejus, * 
Israel potestas ejus. 

Mare vidit, et fugit : 
* Jordanis con versus 
est retrorsum. 

Monies exultave- 
rnnt ut arietes : * et 
colles sicut agni 
ovium. 

Quid est tibi mare 
quod fugisti : * et tu 
Jordanis, quia conver- 
sus es retrorsum ? 

Montes exultastis si- 
cut arietes, * et colles 
sicut agni ovium? 

A facie Domini mota 
est terra, * a facie Dei 
Jacob. 

Qui convertit petram 
in stagna aquarum, * 
et rupem in fontes 
aquarum. 

Non nobis Domine, 

o j 



o i i 

Judea was made 
His sanctuary, Israel 
His dominion. 

Tiie sea saw, and 
fled : Jordan was 
turned back. 

The mountains skip- 
ped like rams, and the 
hills like the lambs of 
the flock. 

What aileth thee, 0 
thou Sea ! that thou 
didst flee? and thou, 
0 Jordan ! that thou 
wast turned back ? 

Ye Mountains, that 
ye skipped like rams ; 
and ye Hills, like lambs 
of the flock? 

At the presence of 
the Lord the earth was 
moved, at the presence 
of the God of Jacob : 

Who turned the rock 
into pools of waters, 
and the stony hill into 
fountains of waters. 

Xot to us, 0 Lord ! 



578 



VESPERS. 



non nobis : * sed no- 
mini tuo da gloriam. 

Super misericord id 
tua, et veritate tua : * 
nequando dicant gen- 
tes : Ubi est Deus 
eorum ? 

Deus autem noster 
in ccelo : * omnia quss- 
cumque voluit, fecit. 

Simulacra gentium 
argentum et aurum, * 
opera manuum horni- 
num. 

Os habent, et non 
loquentur : * oculos 
habent, et non vide- 
bunt. 

Aures habent, et non 
audient ; * nares ha- 
bent, et non odora- 
bunt. 

Manus habent, et 
non palpabunt : pedes 
habent, et non ambu- 
labunt : * non clama- 
bunt in gutture suo. 



not to us ; but to Thy 
name give glory. 

For Thy mercy, and 
for Thy truth's sake : 
lest the Gentiles 
should say : Where is 
their God ? 

But our God is in 
heaven : He hath done 
all things whatsoever 
He would. 

The idols of the 
Gentiles are silver and 
gold, the works of the 
hands of men. 

They have mouths, 
and speak not ; they 
have eyes, and see 
not : 

They have ears, and 
hear not ; they have 
noses, and smell not : 

They have hands, 
and feel not : they have 
feet, and walk not : 
neither shall they cry 
out thro' their throat : 



VESPERS. 



5T9 



Similes illis fiant qui 
faciunt ea : * et omnes 
qui confidunt in eis. 

Domus Israel spera- 
vit in Domino : * ad- 
jutor eorum et protec- 
tor eorum est. 

Domus Aaron spera- 
vit in Domino : * ad- 
jutor eorum et protec- 
tor eorum est. 

Qui timent Domi- 
num, speraverunt in 
Domino : * adjutor 
eorum et protector 
eorum est. 

Dominus memor fuit 
nostri ; * et benedixit 
nobis. 

Benedixit domui Is- 
rael : * benedixit do- 
mui Aaron. 

Benedixit omnibus, 
qui timent Dominum, * 



Let them that make 
them, become like unto 
them, and all such as 
trust in them. 

The house of Israel 
hath hoped in the 
Lord : He is their 
helper and their pro- 
tector. 

The house of Aaron 
hath hoped in the 
Lord : He is their 
helper and their pro- 
tector. 

They that fear the 
Lord have hoped in 
the Lord : He is their 
helper and their pro- 
tector. 

The Lord hath been 
mindful of us ? and hath 
blessed us. 

He hath blessed the 
house of Israel ; he 
hath blessed the house 
of Aaron. 

He hath blessed all 
that fear the Lord, 



580 



VESPERS. 



ptisillis cum majori- 
bus. 

Adjiciat Dominus 
super vos ; * super vos, 
et super filios vestros. 

Benedicti vos a Do- 
mino * qui fecit ccelum 
et terrain. 

Ccelum cceli Do- 
mino; * terrain autem 
dedit fil iis hominum. 



Non mortui lauda- 
bunt te, domine : *ne- 
que omnes que descen- 
dunt in infernum. 

Sed nos qui vivimus, 
benedicimus Domino, * 
ex hoc nunc et usque 
in sseculum. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 



both little and ^reat. 

May the Lord add 
blessings upon you; 
upon you and upon 
your children. 

Blessed be you of 
the Lord who made 
heaven and earth. 

The heaven of hea- 
ven is the Lord's, but 
the earth He hath 
given to the children 
of men. 

The dead shall not 
praise Thee, 0 Lord ! 
nor any of them that 
go down to hell. 

But we that live 
bless the Lord, from 
this time now and for 
ever. 

Glory, &c. 



The following Psalm is sung on sundry festivals, in 
place of the foregoing. 

Psalmus 116. Psalm 116. 

r AUDATE Domi- f\ PEAISE the Lord ! 

\J a 



num, omnes gen- 



all 



ye nations : 



VESPERS. 



581 



tes : * laud ate eum, 
omncs populi. 

Quoniam confirmata 
est super nos miseri- 
cordia ejus : * et Veri- 
tas Domini manet in 
aeternum. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 



praise Him, all ye peo- 
ple. 

For His mercy is 
confirmed upon us : 
and the truth of the 
Lord remaineth for 
ever. 

Glory, &c. 



Cafitulum, 2 Cor. i. 



BENEDICTUS He- 
us et Pater Homi* 
ni nostri Jesu Christi, 
Pater misericordiarum 
et Deus totius consola- 
tionis, qui consolatur 
nos in omni tribula- 
tione nostra. 
E. Deo gratias. 



BLESSED be God 
and the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Father of mercies, 
and the God of all 
comfort, who comfort- 
eth us in all our tribu- 
lation. 

R. Thanks be to 
God. 



THE HYMN. 



"J^UCIS Creator optime, 

Lucem diemm proferens, 
Primordiis lucis novae, 
Mundi parans originem. 



Os 



GREAT Creator of the 



flit ! 



Who from the darksome 

womb of night, 
Brought'st forth new light 

at nature's birth, 
To shine upon the face of 

earth. 



582 



VESPERS. 



Qui mane junctum ves- 
pcri, 

Diem vocari prsecipis : 
Illabitur tetrum chaos, 
A.udi preces cum fletibus. 



Ne mens gravata crimine, 
Vitae sit exul munere, 
Dam nil perenne cogitat, 
Seseque culpis illigat. 



Coeleste pulset ostium, 
Vitale tollat praemium : 
Vitemus omnc noxium: 
Purgemus omnc pessimum. 



Prresta, Pater piissime, 
Patrique compar Unice, 
Cum Spiritu Paraclito, 
Regnans per omnc saeculum. 
Amen. 



V. Dirigatur, Domi- 
ne, oratio mea. 

R. Sicut incensum 
in conspectu tuo. 



Who, by the morn and 
evening ray, 

Hast measured time and 
called it day : 

Whilst sable night around 
ns falls, 

Vouchsafe to hear our tear- 
ful calls ; 

Lest our frail mind with sin 
defiled, 

From gift of life should be 
exiled, 

Whilst on no heavenly thing 

she thinks, 
gut twines herself in Satan's 

links. 

Oh, may she soar to heaven 
above, 

The happy seat of life and 
love; 

Meantime all sinful actions 
shun, 

And satisfy for evil done. 
This prayer, most gracious 

Father! hear; 
Thy equal Son, incline His 

ear, 

Who, with the Holy Ghos/ 

and Thee, 
Doth live and reign etel 

nally. Anien. 

V. May my praye*.. 
0 Lord ! be directed 

B. As incense i/* 
Thy sight. 



VESPERS. 



583 



The Magnificat, or the Canticle of the Blessed 
Virgin. 

St. Luke, i. 



AGNIFICAT * 
anima mea Do- 
minium. 

Et.exnltavit Spiritus 
meus * in Deo salutari 
meo. 

Quia respexit hu- 
militatem ancillae suae, 
* ecce enim ex hoc 
beatam me dicent orn- 
nes generationes. 

Quia fecit mihi mag- 
na qui potens est ; * 
et sanctum nomen 
ejus. 

Et misericordia ejus 
a progenie hi proge- 
nies, * timentibus eum. 

Fecit potentiam in 
brachio bug: * dis- 
persit superbos mente 
cordis sui. 



M 



Y soul doth mag- 
nify the Lord. 



And my spirit hath 
rejoiced in God my 
Saviour. 

Because He hath 
regarded the humility 
of His handmaid : for, 
behold from henceforth 
all generations shall 
call me blessed. 

For He that is 
mighty hath done 
great things to me : 
and holy is His name. 

And His mercy is 
from generation to 
generation, to them 
that fear Him. 

He hath showed 
might in His arm : He 
hath scattered the 
proud in the conceit 
of their heart. 



584 



VESPERS. 



Deposuitpotentesde 
sede : *etexaltavithu- 
miles. 

Esurientes implevit 
bonis : * et divites di- 
misit inanes. 



Suscepit Israel pue- 



rum suum 



recor- 



datus misericordise 
suae. 

Sicut locutus est ad 
patres nostros ; * 
Abraham et semini 
ejus in ssecula. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 



He hath put down 
the mighty from their 
seat, and hath exalted 
the humble. 

He hath filled the 
hungry with good 
things : and the rich 
He hath sent away 
empty. 

He hath received Is- 
rael His servant, being 
mindful of His mercy. 

As He spoke to our 
fathers, to Abraham, 
and to his seed for 
ever. 

Glory, &c. 



Then follows the prayer, which is different every Sunday. 


V. Dominus vobis- 


V. The Lord be with 


cum. 


you. 


R. Et cum spiritu 


H. And with thy 


tuo. 


spirit. 


V. Benedicamus Do- 


V. Let us bless the 


mino. 


Lord. 


B. Deo gratias. 


R. Thanks be to 


God. 



VESPERS. 



585 



V. Fidelium animse, V. May the souls of 
per misericordiamDei, the faithful, through 
requiescant in pace. the mercy of God, rest 

in peace. 

B. Amen. B. Amen. 

Pater noster, &c. Our Father, &c. 

When Compline is not said immediately after Vespers, 
after the verse, Fidelium a?iimce and the Pater iioster, is 
said : 

V. Dominus det no- F. The Lord 'grant 
bis suam pacem. us His peace. 

B. Et vitam seter- B. And life ever- 
nam. Amen. lasting. Amen. 

Then is said one of the following anthems, according to 
the time. 

The Anthem, from the first Sunday of Advent, till the 
Purification, inclusively. 

ALM V Rec T emptoris Ma- TOTHER of Jesus, heav- 
ier quae pervia coeli. l-»-L en's open gate. 
Porta manes, et Stella maris, Star of the sea, support the 

succurre cadenti, fallen state 

Surgere qui curat populo ; Of mortals ; thou whose 

tu qua? genuisti, Womb thy Maker bore ; 

Natura mirante, tuum sane- And yet, strange thing, a 

turn Genitorem, virgin, as before ; 

Virgo prius ac posterius, Who didst, from Gabriel's 

Gabrielis ab ore hail, this news receive, 

lumens iUud Ave, pecca- Repenting sinners by thy 
torum miserere. prayers relieve. 

In Advent. 

V. Angelus Eoinini V. The angel of the 



586 



VESPERS. 



niuitiavit Marise. 

R. Et concepit de 
Spiritu sancto. 

Orenras. 
RAT I AM tuam 
X qmesumus Domi- 
ne, mentibus nostris 
infunde ; ut qui, An- 
gelo nuntiante, Christi 
Filii tui incarnationem 
cognovimus, per pas- 
sionem ejus et crucem 
ad resurrectionis 2flo- 
riam perducamur, Per 
eumdem Christum Do- 
minum nostrum. 

R. Amen. 

After 

V. Post partum Vir- 
go inviolata perman- 
sisti. 

R. Dei genitrix, in- 
tercede pro nobis. 



Lord declared his mes- 
sage to Mary. 

It. And she con- 
ceived by the Holy 
Ghost. 

Let us Pray. 

POUR forth, we be- 
seech Thee, 0 
Lord ! Thy grace into 
our hearts, that we, to 
whom the incarnation 
of Christ Thy Son was 
made known by the 
message of an angel, 
may, by His passion 
and cross, be brought 
to the glory of His re- 
surrection ; Through 
the same Christ, our 
Lord. 

R. Amen. 

Advent. 

V. After childbirth, 
thou didst remain an 
inviolate virgin. 

R. Mother of God, 
make intercession for 
us. 



VESPERS. 587 

Or emus. 

DEUS, qui salutis 
se tern as beatae 
Marios virginitate foe- 
cunda, humano generi 
praemia prsestitisti : 
tribue, quaesumus, ut 
ipsam pro nobis inter- 
cedere sentiamus, per 
quam meruimus aucto- 
rem vitas suscipere Do- 
minum nostrum Jesum 
Christum filium tuum. 
Amen. 

From the Purification till Easter. 

AVE, Regina coelorum. TTAIL, Mary, Queen of 
.Ll heavenly spheres. 
Ave, .Domina angeloruni ; Hail, whom the angelic host 

reveres. 

Salve, radix, salve, porta, Hail, fruitful Root ; hail, 

sacred gate, 

Ex qua mundo lux est orta. Whence the world's light 

derives its date. 
Gaude Virgo gloriosa, O glorious Maid, with beau- 

Super omnes speciosa ; ty blessed ! 

Vale 6 valde decora, May joys eternal fill thy 

Et pro nobis Christum ex- breast, 
ora. Thus crowned with beaut} 7 

and with joy, 
Thy prayers with Christ for 
us employ 



Let us Pray. 

OGOD! who by the 
fruitful virginity 
of the blessed Virgin 
Mary, hast given to 
mankind the rewards 
of eternal salvation, 
grant, we beseech 
Thee, that we may be 
sensible of the benefits 
of her intercession, by 
whom we have receiv- 
ed the Author of life, 
our Lord Jesus Christ, 
Thy Son. Amen. . 



588 



VESPERS. 



V. Dignare me lau- 
dare te, Virgo sacrata. 

B. Da mihivirtutem 
contra hostes tuos. 

Oremns. 

CONCEDE, miseri- 
. cors Deus fragili- 
tati nostra prascidum 
nt qui sanctse Dei ge- 
nitricis memoriam a- 
gimus, intercessionis 
ejus auxilio a nostris 
iniquitatibus resurga- 
mus. Per eumdera 
Christum Dominum 
nostrum. 

R. Amen. 



V. Vouchsafe, 0 sa- 
cred Virgin ! to accept 
my praise. 

B. Give me power 
against thy enemies. 

Let us Pray. 

GRANT us, 0 merci- 
ful God! strength 
against all our weak- 
ness ; that we, who 
celebrate the memory 
of the holy Mother of 
God, may, by the help 
of her intercession, 
rise again from our 
iniquities. Through 
the same Christ our 
Lord. 

B. Amen. 



From Easter until Trinity Sunday. 

REGINA coeli Ise- r\ QUEEN of heav- 
tare, Alleluia ; \J en ! rejoice, Al- 
leluia; 

Quia quem meruisti For He whom thou 
portare, Alleluia; didst deserve to bear, 

Alleluia; 



VESPERS. 



589 



Resurrexit, sicut 
dixit, Alleluia. 

Ora pro nobis Deum, 
Alleluia. 

V. Gaude et lsetare, 
Virgo Maria, Alleluia. 

B. Quia surrexit Do- 
mi uus vere, Alleluia. 

Oremus. 

DEUS, qui per re- 
surrectionem Filii 
tui Domini nostri Jesu 
Ohristi, mundum lseti- 
ficare dignatus es ; 
praesta, qusesuums, ut 
per ejus genitriceni 
Yirginem Maria m, 
perpetuaa capiamus 
gaudia vitre. Per 
eumdem Christum Do- 
rninum nostrum. 

B. Amen. 



Is risen a^ain, as He 
said. Alleluia. 

Pray for us to God, 
Alleluia. 

V. Rejoice and be 
glad, 0 Virgin Mary! 
Alleluia! 

B. Because the Lord 
is truly risen, Alleluia. 

Let us Pray. 




GOD! who by the 
resurrection of 



Thy Son, our Lord 
Jesus Christ, hast 
been pleased to fill 
the world with joy; 
grant, we beseech 
Thee, that by the Vir- 
gin Mary, His Mother, 
we ma}' receive the 
joys of eternal life. 
Through the same 
Christ our Lord. 
B. Amen. 



From Easter until Trinity Sunday. 

SALVE, Regina, ma- TTAIL, 0 Queen, 0 
ter misericordise, XX Mother of mercy! 



590 



VESPERS. 



vita, dulcedo, et spes, 
nostra, salve. 

Ad te clamamus ex- 
ules filii Evge. Ad te 
suspiramus gementes 
et flentes, in hac la- 
cry mar urn valle. 

Eia ergo, Advocata 
nostra, illos tuos mise- 
ricordes oculos ad nos 
converte. 

Et Jesum benedic- 
tum fructura ventris 
tui, nobis post hoc 
exilium ostende; 

0 clemens! 0 pi a ! 
0 dulcis Virgo Maria! 

V. Ora pro nobis, 
sancta Dei Genitrix! 

R. Ut digni effici- 
amur promissionibus 
Christi. 

Oremm 

OMNIPOTENS 
sempiterne Deus, 



hail, our Life, our Com- 
fort, and our Hope. 

We, the banished 
children of Eve, cry 
out unto thee. To 
thee we send up our 
sighs, groaning and 
weeping in this vale 
of tears. 

Come, then, our Ad- 
vocate, and look upon 
us with those thy pity- 
ing eyes. 

And after this our 
banishment, show us 
Jesus, the blessed fruit 
of thy womb. 

0 clement ! 0 mer- 
ciful! 0 sweet Virgin 
Mary! 

V. Pray for us, 0 
holy Mother of God! 

H. That we may be 
made worthy of the 
promises of Christ. 
Let us Pra}\ 

AL M I G H T Y and 
eternal God! w T ho, 



VESPERS. 



591 



qui gloriosoB Virginia 
Matris Marias corpus 
et animam, ut dignum 
Filii tui habitaculum 
effici mereretur, Spiri- 
tu sancto cooperante, 
prseparasti ; da, ut cu- 
jus commemorationc 
lastamur, ejus pia in- 
tercessione ab instan- 
tibus malis, et a morte 
perpetua ' liberemur. 
Per eumdem Christum 
Dominum nostrum. 



E. Amen. 

V. Divinum auxili- 
ura maneat semper no- 
biscum. 

E. Amen. 



by the co-operation of 
the Holy Ghost, didst 
prepare the body and 
soul of the glorious 
virgin Mother, Mary, 
that she might become 
a worthy habitation 
for Thy Son; grant, 
that as with joy we 
celebrate her memory, 
so by her pious inter- 
cession we may be de- 
livered from present 
evils and eternal death 
tli rough the same 
Christ, our Lord. 
E. Amen. 

V. May the divine 
assistance always re- 
main with us. 

E. Amen. 



Ox the Festivals of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Psalms Dixit Dominns, &c, page 570, and Lauclate, pueri 
Dominum, &c, page 575. 

PsALMrs 121. Psalm 121. 

L STATUS sum in T REJOICED at the 
his quae dicta sunt J- things that were 



592 



VESPERS. 



mihi: * in domum Do- 
mini ibimus. 

Stantes erant pedes 
nostri, * in atriis tuis, 
Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem, quae a3di- 
ficatur ut ci vitas : * 
cujus participatio ejus 
in idipsum. 

Illuc enim ascende- 
runt tribus, tribus 
Domini ; * testimoni- 
um Israel ad confi- 
tendum nomini Domi- 
ni. 

Quia illic sederunt 
sedes in judicio, * 
sedes super domum 
David. 

Kogate quae ad pa- 
cem sunt Jerusalem : 
* et abundantia dili- 
gentibus te. 

Fiat pax in virtute 
tua, * et abundantia in 
turribus tuis 



said to me: we shall go 
into the house of the 
Lord. 

Our feet were stand- 
ing in thy courts, 0 
Jerusalem! 

Jerusalem, which is 
built as a city, which 
is compact together. 

For thither did the 
tribes go up,' the tribes 
of the Lord ; the testi- 
mony of Israel, to 
praise the name of the 
Lord. 

Because their seats 
have sat in judgment ; 
seats upon the house 
of David. 

Pray ye for the 
things that are for the 
peace of Jerusalem; 
and abundance for 
them that love thee. 

Let peace be in thy 
strength : and abun- 
dance in thy towers. 



VESPERS. 



593 



Propter fratres meos 
et proximos meos, * lo- 
quebar pacem de te. 

Propter domum Do- 
mini Dei nostri, * qua> 
sivi bona tibi. 

Gloria Patri, &e. 
Psalmtts 126. 




131 Dominus a3di- 
ficaverit domum, 



* in vanum laborave- 
runt qui aediflcant earn. 

Nisi Dominus custo- 
dierit civitatem, * frus- 
tra vigilat qui custodit 
earn. 

Vanum est vobis 
ante lucem surgere : * 
surgite postquam se- 
deritis, qui manducatis 
panem doloris. 

Cum dederit dilectis 
suis somnum ; * ecce 
hsereditas Domini, filii - 

38 



For the sake of my 
brethren, and of my 
neighbors, I spoke 
peace of thee. 

Because of the house 
of the Lord our God, I 
have sought good 
tilings for thee. 

Glory, &c. 

Psalm 126. 

UNLESS the Lord 
build the house, 
the} 7 labor in vain that 
build it. 

Unless the Lord 
keep the city, he 
watcheth in vain that 
keepeth it. 

It is vain for you to 
rise before light : rise 
ye after you have sat, 
you that eat the bread 
of sorrow. 

When He shall give 
sleep to His beloved : 
behold, the inheritance 
of the Lord are chil- 



594 



VESPERS. 



merces, fructus ven- 
tris. 

Sicut sagittae in 
tnanu potentis : * ita 
Qlii excussorum. 

Be at us vir qui irn- 
plevit desiderium sir- 
um ex ipsis : * noli 
confundetur cum lo- 
quetur inimicis suis in 
porta. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

PSALMUS 147. 

LAUD A, Jerusalem, 
Dominum : * lauda 
Deum tuum, Sion. 

Quoniam conforta- 
vit seras portarum 
tuarum : * benedixit 
filiis tuis in te. 

Qui posuit fines tuos 
pacem : * et adipe fru- 
menti satiat te. 



dren ; the reward, the 
fruit of the womb. . 

As arrows in the 
hand of the mighty, so 
the children of them 
that have been shaken. 

Blessed is the man 
that hath filled his de- 
sire with them ; he 
shall not be confound- 
ed when he shall speak 
to his enemies in the 
gate. 

Glory, &c. 
Psalm 147. 

PRAISE the Lord, 
0 Jerusalem ! 
praise thy God, 0 
Sion ! 

Because He hath 
strengthened the bolts 
o£ thy gates: He hath 
blessed thy children 
within thee. 

Who hath placed 
peace in thy borders : 
and filleth thee with 
the fat of corn. 



VESPERS. 



Qui emittet eloqui- 
um siuira terrse ; * ve- 
lociter cnrrit serrno 
ejus. 

Qui dat nivem sicut 
lanam : * nebulam si- 
cut cinerem spargit. 

Mittit crystallum 
suam sicut buccellas : 

* ante faciem frigoris 
ejus quis sustinebit? 

Emittet verbum su- 
um et liquefaciet ea ; 

* Habit spiritus ejus, 
et fluent aqua?. 

Qui annuntiat ver- 
bum suura Jacob ; * 
justitias et judicia sua 
Israel. 

Non fecit taliter ( mi- 
ni nationi ; * et judicia 
sua non manifest a vit 
eis. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 



*J xJO 

Who sendeth forth 
His speech to the 
earth : His word run- 
neth swiftly. 

Who giveth snow 
like wool ; scattereth 
mists like ashes. 

He sendeth His crys- 
tal like morsels : who 
shall stand before the 
face of His cold ? 

He shall send out 
His word, and shall 
melt them ; His wind 
shall blow, and the 
waters shall run. 

AT ho declareth His 
word to Jacob ; His 
justices and His judg- 
ments to Israel. 

He hath nut done in 
like manner to every 
nation : and His judg- 
ments He hath not 
made manifest to them. 

Glory be to the 
Father, &c. 



516 



VESPERS. 



AVE maris stella, 
Dei mater alma, 
Atque semper virgo, 
Felix coeli porta. 



Sumens illud Ave, 
Gabrielis ore, 
Funda nos in pace, 
Mutaus Hevae nomen. 



Solve vincla rcis, 
Profcr lumen csecis, 
Mala nostra pelle, 
Bona cuncta poscc. 



THE HYMN. 

BRIGHT Mother of our 
Maker, hail ! 
Thou Virgin ever bless- 
ed; 

The Ocean's Star by which 
we sail, 
And gain the port of rest ? 

Whilst we this Ave thus to 
thee, 

From Gabriel's mouth re- 
hearse ; 
Prevail, that peace our lot 
may be, 
And Evofs name reverse. 

Release our long-entangled 
mind, 

From all the snares of ill ; 
With heavenly light instruct 
the blind, 
And all our vows fulfil. 



Monstra te esse niatrem, 
Sumat per te preces, 
Qui pro nobis natus 
Tulit esse tuus. 



Virgo singularis, 
Inter o times mitis, 
Nos culpis solutos, 
Mites fac et castos. 



Exert for us a Mother's care, 
And us thy children, own ; 

Prevail with Him to hear our 
prayer, 
Who chose to be thy Son. 

O spotless Maid ! whose vir- 
tues shine 
With brightest purity ; 

Each action of our life re- 
fine, 

And make us pure like 
thee. 



VESPERS. 



£97 



Vitani praesta puram, 
Inter para tutum, 
Ut yidentes Jesum, 
Semper collastemur, 



Sit lans Deo Patri, 
Summo Christo decus, 
Spiritui sancto, 
Tribus honor unns. Amen. 



Preserve our lives unstained 
from ill, 
And guard us in our way ; 
That Christ, one day, our 
souls may fill 
With jo} 8 that ne'er decay. 

To God the Father, endless 
praise : 
To God the Son, the same ; 
And Holy Ghost, whose 
equal rays, 
One equal glory claim. 
Amen. 



V. Vouch safe, 0 sa- 
cred Virgin, to accept 
my praises. 

R. Give me strength 
against thy enemies. 

On Festivals of the Apostles. 

First Vespers : + Second Vespers, Psalms, Dixit Dominus, 
page 570, Laud ate pueri Dominum, page 575. 



V. Dignare me lau- 
dare te ; Virgo sacrata. 

R. Damihi virtutem 
contra hostes tuos. 



PSALMTJS 115. 

CREDIDI, propter 
quod locutus sum: 
* ego autem humilia- 
tes sum nirnis. 



Psalm 115. 
HAVE believed, 
therefore have I 
spoken : but I have 
been humbled exceed- 
ingly. 



t First four psalms as on Sunday; last psalm, Laud ate Jtomi* 
num, page 5S0, instead of In Exitu, &e. 



598 



VESPERS. 



Ego dixi in excessu 
meo : * Omnis homo 
mendax. 

Quid retribuam Do- 
mino * pro omnibus, 
quoe retribuit mihi? 

Calicem salutaris ac- 
cipiam, * et nomen Do- 
mini invocabo. 

Vota mea Domino 
redd am coram omni 
populoejus: * pretiosa 
in eonspectu Domini 
mors sanctorum ejus. 

0 Dornine, quia ego 
servus tuus : * ego 
servus tuus, et filius 
ancillge tuse. 

Dirupisti vincula 
mea: * tibi sacrificabo 
hostiam laudis, et no- 
men Domini invocabo. 

Vota mea Domino 



I said in my excess, 
every man is a liar. 

What shall I render 
to the Lord, for all the 
thing's that He hath 
rendered to me ? 

I will take the chal- 
ice of salvation: and 
I will call upon the 
name of the Lord. 

I will pay my vows 
to the Lord, before all 
His people: precious 
in the sight of the 
Lord is the death of 
His saints. 

OLord! for I am Thy 
servant: I am Thy ser- 
vant and the son of 
Thy handmaid. 

Thou hast broken 
my bonds: I will sac- 
rifice to Thee the sac- 
rifice of praise, and 
I will call upon the 
name of the Lord. 

I will pay my vows 



VESPERS. 



599 



reddam in conspectu 
omnis populi ejus : * 
in atriis domus Domi- 
ni, in medio tui, Jeru- 
salem. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

Psalmus 125. 

IX convertendo Do- 
minus captivitatem 
Sion, * facti sumus 
sicut consolati. 

Tunc repletum est 
gaudio os nostrum,* 
et lingua nostra exul- 
tatione. 

Tunc dicent inter 
gentes: * Magnificavit 
Dominus facere cum 
eis. 

Magnifieavit Domi- 
nus facere nobiscum: * 
facti sumus laetantes. 

Converte, Domine, 
captivitatem nostram* 
sicut torrens in austro. 



to the Lord in the 
sight of all His people: 
in the courts of the 
house of the Lord, in 
the midst of thee, 0 
Jerusalem! 
Glory, &c. 

Psalm: 125. 

TtTHEN the Lord 
» ■ brought back 
the captivity of Sion, 
we became like men 
comforted. 

Then was our month 
filled with gladness; 
and our tongue with 

joy- 
Then shall they say 

among the Gentiles: 

The Lord hath done 

great things for them. 

The Lord hath done 
Great things for us: 
we are become joyful. 

Turn again our cap- 
tivity, 0 Lord ! as a 
stream in the south. 



GOO 



VESPERS. 



Qui seminant in lac- 
rymis, in exultatione 
me tent. 

Euntes ibant et fle- 
bant, * mittentes se- 
' mina sua. 

Venientes an tern ve- 
nient cum exultatione, 

* portantes manipulos 
suos. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 

Psalmtjs 138. 

DOMINE, probasti 
me et coornovisti 
me: * tu cognovisti 
sessionem meam, et 
resurrectionem meam. 

Intellexisti eogita- 
tiones meas de longe: 

* semitam meam et 
funiculum meum in- 
vesti^asti. 

Et omnes vias prse- 
vidisti: * quia non est 
sermo in lingua mea. 



They that sow in 
tears, shall reap in 

joy. 

Going, they went 
and wept, casting their 
seeds. 

But coming, they 
shall come with joy- 
fulness, carrying their 
sheaves. 
Glory, &c. 

Psalm 138. 

I" ORD, Thou hast 
J proved me, and 
know me; Thou hast 
known my sitting 
down and my rising 
up. 

Thou hast under- 
stood my thoughts afar 
off ; my path and my 
line Thou hast search- 
ed out. 

And Thou hast fore- 
seen all my ways : for 
there is no speech in 
my tongue. 



VESPERS. 



COl 



Ecce, Domine, tu 
cognovisti omnia, no* 
vissima et antiqua: * 
tu formasti me, et po- 
suisti super me ma- 
num tuam. 

Mirabilis facta est 
scientia tua ex me: * 
confortata est, et non 
potero ad earn. 

Quo ibo a spiritu 
tuo ? * et quo a facie 
tua fu^iam! 

Si aseendero in cee- 
lum, tu illic es: * si 
descendero in infer- 
num, ades. 

Si sumpsero pennas 
meas diluculo, * et ha- 
bitavero in extremis 
maris. 

Etenim illuc maims 
tua deducet me : * et 
tenebitme dexteratua. 



Behold, 0 Lord! 
Thou hast known all 
things, the last and 
those of old : Thou 
hast formed me, and 
hast laid Thy hand 
upon me. 

Thy knowledge is 
become wonderful to 
me : it is high, and I 
cannot reach to it. 

Whither shall I go 
from Thy spirit ? or 
whither shall I flee 
from Thy face ? 

If I ascend into 
heaven, Thou art 
there : if I descend 
into hell, Thou art 
present. 

If I take my wings 
early in the morning, 
and dwell in the utter- 
most parts of the sea, 

Even there also 
shall Thy hand lead 
me; and Thy right 
hand shall hold me. 



602 



VESPERS. 



Et dixi: Forsitan te- 
uebrce- conculcabunt 
me : * et nox illumina- 
tio mea in deliciis 
rneis. 

Quia tenebrge non 
obscurabuntur a te, et 
nox sicut dies ilium i- 
nahitur: * sicut tene- 
brse ejus, ita et lumen 
ejus. 

Quia tu possedisti 
renes meos: * susce- 
pisti me de iitero ma- 
tris rneee. 

Confitebor tibi quia 
terri bili ter m aernific a- 
tus es : * mirabilia 
opera tua, et anima 
mea cognoscit nimis. 

Non est occultatum 
os meum a te quod fe- 
cisti in occulto: * et 
substantia mea in in- 
ferioribus terrae. 



And I said: Perhaps 
darkness shall cover 
me : and night shall 
be my light in my 
pleasures. 

But darkness shall 
not be dark to Thee, 
and night shall be 
light as the day : the 
darkness thereof, and 
the light thereof, are 
alike to Thee. 

For Thou hast pos- 
sessed my reins: Thou 
hast protected me from 
my mother's womb. 

I will praise Thee, 
for Thou art fearfully 
magnified: wonderful 
are Thy works, and 
mv soul knoweth right 
well. 

My bone is not hid- 
den from Thee, which 
Thou hast made in 
secret; and my sub- 
stance in the lower 
parts of the earth. 



VESPERS. 



603 



Imperfectum meam 
viderunt oculi tui, et 
in libro tuo omnes scri- 
benfcur: * dies forma? 
buntur, et nemo in eis. 

Mihi autem nimis 
honorificati sunt amici 
tui Deus: * nimis con- 
fortatus et principatus 
eorum. 

Dinumerabo eos. et 
super arenam multipli- 
cabuntur: * exurrexi, 
et adhuc sum tecum. 

Si occideris, Deus, 
peccatores: *viri san- 
guinum deelinate a 
me. 

Quia dicitis in cogi- 
tatione : * Accipient 
in vanitate civitates 
tuas. 

Nonne qui oderunt 
te Domine, oderam ; * 
et super inimicos tuos 



Thy eyes did see 
my imperfect being", 
and in Thy book all 
shall be written: days 
shall be formed, and 
no one in them. 

But to me, Thy 
friends, 0 God! are 
made exceedingly 
honorable: their prin- 
cipality is exceedingly 
strengthened. 

I will number them, 
and they shall be mul- 
tiplied above the sand: 
I rose up, and am still 
with Thee 

If Thou wilt kill the 
wicked, 0 God: ye 
men of blood, depart 
from me. 

Because you say in 
thought : they shall 
receive thy cities in 
vain. 

Have I not hated 
them, 0 Lord ! that 
hate Thee ; and pined 



VESPERS. 



tabescebaru ? 

Perfecto odio oderam 
illos : * et inimici facti 
sunt mihi. 

Proba me, Deus, et 
scito cor meum : * in- 
terroga me, et cog- 
nosce semitas meas. 

Et vide si via iniqui- 
tatis in me est : * et 
deduc me in via seter- 

A 

na. 

Gloria Patri, &c. 



away because of Thy 
enemies ? 

I have hated them 
with a perfect hatred : 
and they are become 
enemies to me. 

Prove me, 0 God ! 
and know my heart : 
examine me, and know 
my paths. 

And see if there be 
in me the way of in- 
iquity : and lead me in 
the eternal way. 

Glory, &c. 



On Festivals of One Martyr or Several. 

First Vespers, as on feasts of Apostles ; Second Vespers, 
instead of Laudate Dominum, the last psalm is Credidi, 
page 597. 

On Festivals of Confessors, not BisHors. 
First Vespers, as on feasts of Apostles. 

On Festivals of Confessors, Bishops. 
First Vespers, as on feasts of Apostles ; in the Second 
Vespers, the last psalm is the following : 

Psalmus 131. Psalm 131. 

MEMENTO, Domi- f\ LORD! remem- 
ne, David, * et \J ber David, and 



VESPERS. 



605 



omnis mansuetudinis 
ejus. 

Sicut juravit Domi- 
no, * votura vovit Deo 
Jacob : 

Si introiero in taber- 
naculum domus meae, * 
si ascendero in lectum 
strati mei : 

Si dedero somnum 
oculis meis, * et palpe- 
bris meis dormita- 
tionem. 

Et requiem tempori- 
bus meis, donee inveni- 
am locum Domino, * 
tabernaculum Deo Ja- 
cob. 

Ecce audivimus earn 
in Ephrata : invenimus 
earn in campis sylvae. 

Introibimus in taber- 
naculum ejus : * ado- 
rabimus in loco, ubi 
steterunt pedes ejus. 



all his meekness ; 

How he swore to 
the Lord : he vowed a 
vow to the God of 
Jacob : 

If I shall enter into 
the tabernacle of my 
house : if I shall go up 
into the bed wherein I 
lie : 

If I shall give sleep 
to my eyes, or slumber 
to my eyelids. 

Or rest to my tem- 
ples ; until I find out 
a place for the Lord, a 
tabernacle for the God 
of Jacob. 

Behold we have 
heard of it in Ephrata ; 
we have found it in the 
fields of the wood. 

We will go into His 
tabernacle : we will 
adore in the place 
where His feet stood. 



606 



VESPERS. 



Surge, Domine, in 
requiem tuam, * tu et 
area sanctificationis 
tuoe. 

Sacerdotes tui indu- 
antur justitiam : * et 
sancti tui exultent. 

Propter David ser- 
vum tuurri, * uon aver- 
tas faciem Christi tai. 

Juravit Domirms 
David veritatem, et 
npn frustrabitur earn : 
* de fructu ventris tui 
ponam super sedem 
tuam 

Si custodierint filii 
tui testamentum me- 
uih, . * et testimonia 
raea base, quse docebo 
eos : 

Et filii eorum usque 
iu speculum, * sedebunt 
super sedem tuam. 
m Quoniam elegit Do- 



Arise, 0 Lord ! in- 
to Thy resting-place ; 
Thou and the ark, 
which Thou hast 
sanctified. 

Let Thy priests be 
clothed with justice; 
and let Thy saints re- 
joice. 

For Thy servant 
David's sake, turn not 
away the face of Thy 
anointed. 

The Lord hath 
sworn truth to David, 
and He will not make 
it void : of the frait of 
thy womb I will set 
upon thy throne. 

If thy children will 
keep my covenant, and 
these my testimonies 
which I shall teach 
them : 

Their children also 
for evermore shall sit 
upon thy throne. 

For the Lord hath 



VESPERS. 



60? 



minus Sion ; * elegit 
earn in habitationem 
sibi. 

Ha3C requies mea in 
saeculum sseculi : *hic 
habitabo, quoniam ele- 
gi earn. 

Viduam ejus benedi- 
cens benedicam : * 
pauperes ejus satu- 
rabo panibus. 

Sacerdotes ejus in- 
duam salutari : * et 
sancti ejus exultatione 
exuitabunt. 

Illuc producam cor- 
nu David : * paravi 
lucernam Christo meo. 

Inimicos ejus indu- 
am confusione : * su- 
per ipsum autem 
effiorebit sanctificatio 
mea. 

Gloria, &c. 

On Festivals 
The psalms as on festivals of 



chosen Sion : He hath 
chosen it for His 
dwelling. 

This is my rest for 
ever and ever : here 
will I dwell, for I have 
chosen it. 

Blessing I will bless 
her widow ; I will 
satisfy her poor with 
bread. 

I will clothe her 
priests with salvation: 
and her saints shall re- 
joice with exceeding- 
great joy. 

There will I brinsr 
forth a horn to David : 
I have prepared a lamp 
for my anointed. 

His enemies I will 
clothe with confusion : 
but upon him shall my 
sanctification flourish. 

Glory, &c. 

i of Virgins. 

the Blessed Virgin, page 591. 



603 



VESPERS. 



On Festivals of Holy Women. 
Psalms as the preceding. 

On the Festival of All Saints. 

In Second Vespers, the last psalm is Crcdidi, page 597. 

On Christmas Day. 
First Vespers, as on feast of Apostles. Second Vespers, 
psalms, Dixit Dominus, page 570, Confttebor^ page 571, 
Beatus vir, page 573, 



PSALMUS 129. 

DE prot'undis clama- 
vi ad te, Domine : 
* Domine, exaudi vo- 
cem meam. 

Fiant aures tuae in- 
tendentes, * in vocem 
deprecationis mese. 

Si iniquitates obser- 
vaveris, Domine : * 
Domine, quis sustine- 
bit? 

Quia apud te propi- 
tiatio est : * et propter 
legem tuam sustinui 
te, Domine. 



Sustinuitanima mea 



Psalm 129. 

OUT of the depths 
I have cried to 
Thee, 0 Lord! Lord, 
hear my voice. 

Let Thy ears be a& 
tentive to the voice of 
my supplication. 

If Thou, 0 Lord! 
wilt mark iniquities, 
Lord, who shall stand ? 

For with thee there 
is merciful forgive- 
ness : and by reason 
of Thy law, I have 
waited for Thee, 0 
Lord ! 

My soul hath relied 



VESPERS 



600 



in verbo ejus : * spe- 
nt vit anima mea in 
Domino. 

A custodia matutina 
usque ad noctem. * 
speret Israel in Do- 
mino. 

Quia apud Dominum 
' misericordia, * et copi- 
osa apud eurn redemp- 
tio. 

Et ipse redimet Is- 



yrd : mv sou' 



on His w 
hath hoped in the 
Lord. 

From the morning 
watch even until 
night, let Israel hope 



in 



the Lord. 



ex ommous in 



raelj 

quitatibus ejus. 
Gloria Patri, &c. 



Because with the 
Lord there is mercy : 
and with Him plenti- 
ful redemption. 

And He shall redeem 
Israel from all his in- 
iquities. 
Glory, &c. 
Fifth Psalm, Memento Domine, pace 604. 

Ox the Festivals of the Epiphany. 
First Vespers as on Christmas Day. 

Ox the Festival of the Holy Name of Jesus. 
Four psalms as on Sundays : Fifth Psalm, Credidi. 

Ox the Festival of Easter. 

Second Vespers ; psalms as on Sundays. 

Ox Ascexsiox-Dat axd Whitsuxdat. 
First Vespers as on Christmas Day. 

Ox the Festival of Corpus Ciikisti. 
Psalms, Dixit Dominus, page 570, Ueyifttebor^ pajje 571, 
Credidi. page 597. 

39 



610. 



VESPERS. 



PSALMUS 127. 

BEATI orrmes qui 
timent Dominum; 

* qui ambulant in viis 
ejus. 

Labores manum tua- 
rum quia manducabis: 

* beatus es, et bene 
tibi erit. 

Uxor tua sicut vitis 
abundans, * in lateri- 
bus dornus tuae. 

Filii tui sicut novel- 
ise olivarum, * in cir- 
cuitu mensee tuee. 

Ecce sic benedice- 
tur homo, * qui timet 
Dominum. 

Benedicat tibi Do- 
minus ex Sion: * et 
videas bona Jerusa- 
lem omnibus diebus 
vita3 tuse. 

Et videas filios filio- 
rum tuorum, * pacem 



Psalm 127. 

BLESSED are all 
they that fear the 
Lord; that walk in His 
ways. 

For thou shalt eat 
the labors of thy hands ; 
blessed art thou, and 
it shall be well with 
thee. 

Thy wife as a fruit- 
ful vine, on the sides 
of thy house. 

Thy children as 
olive plants round 
about thy table. 

Behold, thus shall 
the man be blessed, 
that feareth the Lord. 

May the Lord bless 
thee out of Sion: and 
mayest thou s-ee the 
good things of Jeru- 
salem, all the days of 
thy life. 

And mayest thou 
see thy children's chil- 



BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 611 

super Israel. dren, peace upon Is- 

rael. 

Gloria Patri, &c. Glory, &c. 

The Fifth Psalm, Lauda Jerusalem, page 594. 



eimttction of the %\mti jfatptsmini. 



WHAT we call the Benediction, is a devotion practised 
by the Church, in order to give adoration, praise, 
and blessing, or Benediction to God, for His infinite good- 
ness and love, testified to us in the institution of the 
Blessed Sacrament ; and to receive at the same time, the 
benediction or blessing of our Lord, there present. 

When the Blessed Sacrament is taken out of the taber- 
nacle, the choir sings, 0 salutaris Hostia, &c, i. e., 0 
saving victim! who openest the gates of heaven ; lo, the 
wars of our enemies press upon us: do Thou give us strength 
and aid. To the great Lord, who is Three in One be ever- 
lasting glory. Oh! may He grant us life without end, in 
our heavenly country. 

After this, is usually sung some psalm, or pious metre, 
according to the order of superiors, the discretion of the 
celebrant, or exigence of the times. Then follows the hymn 
of the Blessed Sacrament, Pange lingua, or at least the 
latter part of it, Tantum ergo. 

THE HYMN. 

PANGE, lingua, gloriosi QING, O my tongue ! 

Corporis mysterium, O adore and praise 

Sanguinisque pretiosi, The depth of God's mys- 

Quem in mundi pretium terious ways : 



BENEDICTION OF THE 



612 

Fructus ventris generosi 
Rex elfudit gentium. 



Nobis datus, nobis natus 
Ex intacta Virgin e, 
Et in mundo conversatus, 
Sparso verbi semine, 
Sui moras incolatus 
Miro clausit ordine. 



In supremse nocte coense 
Kecnmbens cum fratribus 
Observata lege plene 
Cihis in legalibus, 
Cibum turbse duodenae 
Se dat suis manibus. 



Verbum caro, panem ve- 
rum 



How Christ, the world's 
great King, bestowed 

His flesh, concealed in hu- 
man food, 

And left mankind the blood 
that paid 

The ransom for the souls 
He made. 

Given from above, and born 

for man, 
From Virgin's womb His 

life began ; 
He lived on earth, and 

preached, to sow 
The seeds of heavenly truth 

below ; 

Then sealed His mission 

from above, 
With strange effects of 

power and love. 

'Twas on that evening, when 
the last 

And most mysterious sup- 
per passed ; 

When Christ with His dis- 
ciples sat, 

To close the law with legal 
meat ; 

Then on the Twelve Him- 
self bestowed, 

With His own hands, to be 
their food. 

The Word, made flesh for 
for love of man, 



BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



613 



Verbo carnem efficit, 
Fitque sanguis Christi mc- 

rum, 
Et si sensus deficit, 
Ad firmandum cor sincerum 
Sola fides sufficit. 



His word turns bread to 

flesh again, 
And wine to blood, unseen 

by sense, 
By virtue of omnipotence ; 
And here the faithful rest 

secure, 

AVhilst God can vouch, and 
faith insure. 



Tantum ergo Sacramen- 
tum 

Veneremur cernui, 

Et antiquum documentum 

Novo cedat ritui ; 

Praestet fides supplementum 

Scnsuum defectui. 



To this mysterious table 
now, 

Our knees, our hearts, and 

sense, we bow ; 
Let ancient rites resign their 

place 

To nobler elements of 
grace, 

And faith for all defects 
supply, 

Whilst sense is lost in mys- 
tery. 



Genitori Genitoque 
Laus et jubilatio, 
Salus, honor, virtus quoque, 
Sit et benedictio ; 
Procedenti ab utroque 
Compar sit laudatio. 
Amen. 



To God the Father, born 

of none, 
To Christ His co-eternal 

Son, 

And Holy Ghost, whose 

equal rays 
From both proceed, one 

equal praise, 
One honor, jubilee, and 

fame, 

For ever bless His glorious 
name. Amen. 



V. Pancm de coelo V. Thou hast given 



614: BENEDICTION" OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 



praestitisti eis. them bread from hea- 

ven. 

R. Omne delecta- R. Replenished with 
mentum in se haben- all sweetness and de- 
tem. light. 

Let us Pray. 

OGOD ! who hast left us, in this wonderful 
sacrament, a perpetual memorial of Thy 
passion : grant us, we beseech Thee, so to 
reverence the sacred mysteries of Thy body 
and blood, that we may continually find in our 
souls the fruit of Thy redemption, who livest 
and reignest, &c. 

Defend, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord ! through 
the intercession of the blessed Mary, ever Vir- 
gin, this Thy family from all adversity ; and, 
being prostrate before Thee, with our whole 
hearts, protect us, in Thy mercy, from the 
snares of oar enemies, through Jesus Christ, 
our Lord. 

When the priest gives the benediction with the Blessed 
Sacrament, bow down, and profoundly adore your Saviour 
there present. Give Him thanks for all His mercies ; 
offer your whole self to Him, to be His for ever; and 
earnestly beg His blessing upon you and yours, and upon 
His whole Church. 

Three hundred days, once a day, to those who recite de- 
voutly the hymn, Sing, 0 my tongue, adore and jiraise, 
&c, with the versicle and prayer: one hundred days to 
those who recite only, To this mysterious table now, &c.^ 



HYMNS. 



615 



with the vcrsicle and prayer. They who would recite 
either of the above prayers frequently, or at least ten 
times every month, might gain a plenary indulgence on 
Holy Thursday, on the feast of Corpus Christi, or one of 
the days of the Octave, and on another day at option 
during the year. 

These indulgences are applicable to the sqnls in purga- 
tory. 



HYMNS AND ANTHEMS. 



The following may be suns at the benediction of the Blessed 
Sacrament. 

CHORUS. 

ADOREMUS in sternum 
Sanctissimum Sacramcntum. 

SOLO. 

Laudate Domimtm, <fcc, p. 580. 

The same in English. 

PROSTRATE in trembling awe, let's all adore 
This holy Sacrament for evermore. 

O praise the Lord, <fcc., p. 5S0. 



O SALUTARIS Hostia, 
Quoe coeli pandis ostium, 
Bella premunt hostilia, 
Da robur, fer auxilium. 

Uni trinoque Domino 
Sit sempiterna gloria, 



616 



HYMNS. 



Qui vitam sine termino 
Nobis donet in patria. Amen. 

The same in English. 

O SAVING Host ! O heavenly Bread ! 
That makcst our souls for ever live, 
Against the cruel foes we dread, 
Thy heavenly aid unto us give. 

O Thou, who feed'st us with Thy blood ! 

Good Shepherd, praise be to Thy name. 
Whilst mortals taste th' immortal food, 

Let heavenly choirs Thy love proclaim. 



PANIS angelicus fit panis hominum ; 
Dat panis coelicus figuris terminum ; 
O res mirabilis ! manducat Dominum 
Pauper, servos, et humilis. 

Te trina Deitas unaque, poscimus, 
Sic nos tu visita, sicut te colimus ; 
Per tuas semitas due nos quo tendimus, 
Ad lucem qnam inhabitas. Amen. 

The same in English. 

THE bread of angels, #read for men is made ; 
The truth and substance now exclude the shade. 
O strange effect of love ! the Sovereign God 
Becomes the poor man, slave, and sinner's food ! 

O Three in One ! we humbly Thee implore 

To manifest Thyself, as we adore ; 

By Thy own ways instruct us how to move 

To that bright light, in which Thou dwell'st above. 



HYMNS. 



617 



A YE, verum corpus, natum 
De Maria Yirgine, 
Yere passurn, immolatum, 
In cruce pro nomine. 

Cujus latus perforatum 

Unda fluxit et sanguine, 
Esto nobis praBgustatum 

Mortis in examine, 

0 Jesu dulcis ! 

O Jesu pie ! 
0 Jesu fill Marine ! 

Tu nobis miserere. 

The same in English, 

HAIL, real body of our Lord, 
From spotless Virgin born l 
Hail, Victim, stretched upon a cross, 
And for us bruised and torn ! 

Thy side, with cruel spear transpierced, 

Let out a saving flood, 
To wash our sinful stains away, 

Of water mixed with blood. 

0 heavenly manna be our food, 

Whilst in this life we stay ; 
And when death comes, prepare our souls 

To meet the judgment day. 

O gracious J esus ! bounteous Lord ! 

O Mary's clement Son ! 
Let sinners grace and pardon find 

Before Thy mercy's throne. 

The following Anthems to the Blessed Virgin are sometimes 
added : 



618 



HYMNS. 



s 



SOLO. 

UB tuum presidium confugimus, sancta Dei genitrix. 



CHORUS. 

Sub tuum, &c. 

SOLO. 

Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus 
nostris. 

chorus. 

Sub tuum, &c. 

SOLO. 

Sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa 
et benedicta. 

chorus. 
Sub tuum, <fcc. t. 

The same in English. 
HOLY Mother of our God ! 
To thee for help we fly ; 
Desx^ise not this our humble prayer, 
But all our wants supply. 

O glorious Virgin, ever blessed ! 

Defend us from our foes ; 
From threatening danger set us free, 
And terminate our woes. 

solo. 

OSANCTISSIMA, O purissima, 
Dulcis Virgo Maria ! 

CHORUS. 

Mater amata, intemerata, 
Ora, ora pro nobis ! 

SOLO. * 

Tota pulchra es, O Maria ! 
Et macula non est in te. 



HYMNS. 



619 



CHORUS. 



Mater amata, &c. 

SOLO. 

Sicut lilium inter spinas 
Sic Maria inter filias. 



Mater amata, &c. 



THE PLAINT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 



KJ Juxta crucem lacrymosa, 

Dura pendebat Alius. 
Cujus an imam gementem, 
Contristatani et dolentem, 
Pertransivit gladius. 

O quam tristis et afflicta, 
Fuit ilia benedicta 

Mater unigeniti ! 
Quae moerebat et clolebat, 
Pia mater, dura videbat 

Nati poenas inclyti. 

Quis est homo qui non floret, 
Christ! matrem si vidcret 

In tanto supplicio ? 
Quis non posset contristari 
Piam matrem contemplari 

Dolentem cum filio ? 

Pro peccatis sure gentis, 
Vidit Jesum in tormentis, 
Et flagellis subdituin. 



chorus. 




620 



HYMNS. 



Vidlt suum dulcem natum, 
Morientem, desolatum, 
Dum emisit spiritum. 

Eia mater, fons amoris, 
Me sentire vim doloris 

Fac ut tecum logcam. 
Fac ut ardeat cor meum, 
In amando Christum Deum. 

Ut sibi complaceam. 

Sancta Mater, istud agas, 
Crucifixi fige plagas 

Cordi meo valicle. 
Tui Nati vulnerati, 
Tarn dignati pro me pati, 

Pcenas mecum divide. 

Fac me tecum pie flere, 
Crucifixo condolere, 

Donee ego vixero. 
Juxta crucem tecum stare, 
Et me tibi sociare 

In planctu desidero. 

Virgo virginum prseclara, 
Mihi jam non sis amara; 

Fac me tecum plangerc. 
Fac ut portem Christi mortem 
Passionis fac consortem, 

Et plagas recolere. 

Fac me plagis vulnerari, 
Fac me cruce inebriari, 

Et cruore filii. 
Inflammatus et accensus t 
Per te, Virgo, sim defensus, 

In die judicii. 



HYMNS. 



Fac me cruce enstodiri, 
Morte Christi praemuniri, 

Confoveri gratia. 
Quando corpus morietur, 
Fac ut aniinse donetur 

Paradisi gloria. Amen. 

The same in English. 

UNDER the world's redeeming wood, 
The most afflicted Mother stood, 
Mingling her tears with her Son's blood. 

As that streamed down from every part, 
Of all His wounds she felt the smart. 
What pierced His body, pierced her heart 

Who can with tearless eye look on, 
"When such a Mother, such a Sen, 
Wounded and gasping, does bemoan ? 

Oh ! worse*than Jewish heart that could, 
Unmoved, behold the double flood 
Of Mary's tears and Jesus' blood. 

It is our sins, alas ! — not His, 

For which He bleeds, for which He dies, 

In this atoning sacrifice. 

When graves did open, rocks were rent, 
When nature and each element 
His torments and her grief resent, 

Shall man, the cause of all His pain 
And all His grief, shall sinful man 
Alone insensible remain ? 

Ah ! pious Mother, teach my heart, 
Of sighs and tears the holy art, 
And in thy grief to bear a part. 



622 



HYMNS. 



The sword of grief that did pass through 

The very soul, oh ! may it now 

One kind wound on my heart bestow. 

Great Queen of sorrows ! in thy train, 
Let me a mourner's place obtain, 
With tears to cleanse aU sinful stain. 

Refuge of sinners ! grant that we 
May tread thy steps, and let it be 
Our sorrow not to grieve with thee. 

Oh ! may the wounds of thy dear Son, 
Our contrite hearts possess alone, 
And all terrene affections drown. 

May they such deep impressions make, 
That we of suffering for His sake, 
May joyfully our portion take. 

Let us His proper badge put on, 
Let's glory in His cross alone, • 
By which He marks us for His own. 

That when the dreadful day shall come, 
For every man to hear his doom, 
On His right hand we may find room. 

Oh ! hear us, Mary ! Jesus hear ! 
Our humble prayers, secure from fear, 
When Thou in judgment shalt appear. 

Now give us sorrow, give us love, 
That so prepared we may remove, 
When called, to the blessed seats above. Amen. 




"WHIT- SUNDAY. 
ENI, Creator Spiritus, 
Mentes tuorum visita, 



HYMNS. 



623 



Iinple superna gratia 
Quse tu creasti pectora. 

Qui Paraclitns, diceria 
Altissimi donum Dei, 
Fons vivus, ignis, charitas, 
Et spiritalis unctio. 

Tu septiformis munere, 
Digitus pat erase dexterae ; 
Tu rite promissum Pairis, 
Sermone ditans guttura. 

Accende lumen sensibus, 
Infunde amorem cordibus, 
Infirma nostri corporis 
Virtute firmans perpeti. 

Hostem repellas longius, 
Pacemque dones protinus : 
Duetore sic te pnevio 
V it emus omne noxium. 

Per te sciamus da Patrem 
ZSToscamus atque Filium ; 
Teque utriusque Spiritum 
Credamus omni tempore. 

Deo Patri sit gloria 
Et Filio qui a mortuis 
Surrexit, ac Paraclito, 
In sreculorum scecuia. Amen. 

The same in English. 



O Come visit every pious mind, 
And sweetly let Thy grace invade 
Our hearts, 0 Lord ! which Thou hast made. 




624 



HYMNS. 



Thou art the Comforter, whom all, 
Gift of the highest God, must call ; 
The living fountain, fire, and love ; 
The ghostly unction from above ; 

God's sacred finger, which imparts 
A sevenfold grace to faithful hearts ; 
Thou art the Father's promise, whence 
We language have, and eloquence. 

Enlighten, Lord, our souls, and grant 
That we Thy love may never want ; 
Let not our virtue ever fail, 
But strengthen what in flesh is frail. 

Chase from our minds the infernal foe, 
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow ; 
And lest our feet should step astray, 
Protect and guide us in the way. 

Make us eternal truths receive, 
And practise all that we believe : 
Give us Thyself, that we may see 
The Father and the Son in Thee. 

Immortal honor, endless fame, 
Attend the Almighty Father's name : 
To the Son equal praises be, 
And, holy Paraclete, to Thee. Amen. 



SEQUENCE FOR WHIT-SUNDAY. 

VENI, sancte Spiritus 
Et emitte coelitus, 
Lucis fuse radium. 
Veni, pater pauperum, 
Veni, dator munerum, 
Veni, lumen cordium. 



HYMNS. 



625 



Consolator optime, 
Dttlcis hospes aniine?, 

Dulce refrigerium. 
In Lahore requiem * 
In a?stu tempcries, 

In netu solatium. 

0 lux beatissima ! 
Reple cordis intima, 

Tuorum fidelinin. 
Sine tuo numine, 
Nihil est in homine, 

Nihil est innoxium. 

Lava quod est sordidum, 
Riga quod est aridum, 

Sana quod est saucium. 
Flecte quod est rigid um, 
Fove quod est frigidum, 

Rege quod est deviuui. 

Da tuis fidelibus, 
In te confidentibus. 

Sacrum septenarium. 
Da virtutis meritum, 
Da salutis exitum, 

Da perenne gaudium. Amen. Alleluia. 

The same in English. 

COME. Holy Ghost, send down those beams, 
Which sweetly flow in silent streams, 
From Thy bright throne above : 
Come, Thou, the father of the poor, 
Thou bounteous source of all our store. 
Come, fire our hearts with love. 

Come, Thou, of comforters the best. 
Come, Thou, the soul's delightful guest, 
40 



626 



HYMNS. 



The pilgrim's sweet relief. 
Thou art our rest in toil and sweat, 
Refreshment in excessive heat, 

And solace in our grief. 

O sacred light ! shoot home Thy darts, 
Oh ! pierce the centre of these hearts, 

Whose faith aspires to Thee. 
Without Thy Godhead, nothing can 
Have any price or worth in man ; 

Nothing can harmless be. 

Lord, wash our sinful stains away ; 
Water from heaven our barren clay, 

Our wounds and bruises heal : 
To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bend; 
To inflame our cold hearts, fire send, 

Our wandering fect recall. 

Oh, grant Thy faithful, dearest Lord, 
Whose only hope is Thy sure word, 

The seven gifts of Thy spirit : 
Grant us in life to obey Thy grace ; 
Grant us at death to see Thy face, 

And endless joys inherit. 



HYMN OF THANKSGIVING. 

TE Dcum laudamus : * te Dominum confitemur. 
Tc rcternum Patrem, * omnis terra vencratur. 
Tibi omncs Angeli : * tibi cocli, ct universae potcstatcs : 
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim *inccssabili voce proclamant : 
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, * Dominus Dcus Sabaoth. 
Plcni sunt cocli et terra * majestatis glorise tua3. 
Te gloriosus x * Apostolorum chorus ; 
Te Prophetarum * laudabilis numcrus ; 
Te Martyrum candidatus * laudat cxercitus ; 



HYMNS. 



627 



Te per orbem terrarurn * sancta confitetur Ecclcsia. 

Patrem * imniensae majestatis ; 

Venerandum tuum verum * et unicum Filium, 

Sanctum quoque * Paraclitum Spiritum. 

Tu Rex glorise, * Christe. 

Tu Patris * sempiternus es Films. 

Tu, ad liberandum suscepturus honiinem, * non horruist' 

Virginis uterum. 
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, * aperuisti credentibus regn? 5 

coelorum. 

Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes * in gloria Patris. 
Judex crederis * esse venturus. 

Te ergo qusesumus, tuis famulis subveni, * quos pretioso 

sanguine redemisti. 
Sterna fac cum Sanctis tuis * in gloria numerari. 
Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, * et benedic heredi- 

tati tuee. 

Et rege eos, et extolle illos * usque in seternuni. 
Per singulos dies, * benedicimus te. 

Et laudamus nomen tuum in soeculum, * et in saeculum 
saeculi. 

Dignare, Domine, die isto * sine peccato nos custodire. 

Miserere nostri Domine, * miserere nostri. 

Eiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos : * quemad- 

modum speravimus in te. 
In te, Domine, speravi : * non confundar in seternum. 
V. Benedicamus Patrem, et Eilium, cum sancto Spiritu. 
21. Laudemus et superexaltemus eum in Siecula. 



EUS, cujus misericordias non est numerus, et bonita- 



tJs infinitus est thesaurus: piissimse majestati tuaa 
pro collatis donis gratias agimus, tuam semper clementiam 
exorantes ; ut qui petentibus postulata concedis, eosdem 
non deserens, ad prsemia futura disioonas. Per Dominum 
nostrum. 



OREMUS. 




HYMNS. 



The same in English. 

THEE, sovereign God, we grateful praise, 
And greet Thee, Lord, in festive lays ; 
To Thee, great God, earth's boundless frame 
With echoes sounds immortal fame : 
Lord God of hosts, the heavenly powers I 
For Thee vibrate the vaulted towers. ) 

Cherub and seraph throned on high, 
Still holy, holy, holy, cry. 
Both heaven and earth aloud display 
Thy beauty, grandeur, majesty; 

Thy praises fill the apostles' choir ; 

The prophets in the song conspire. 

The crimsoned band in chorus shine, 
And vocal blood with music join ; 
By these inspired with heavenly art, 
Thy Church maintains a second part, 

And tunes her notes, O God ! for Thee, 

Father of boundless majesty. 

The Son, copartner of Thy seat, 

And the equal, endless Paraclete ; 

Thou King of glory, Christ most high : 

Thou coeternal Deity ; 
Thou, who t' avert the world's dread doom, 
Didst dwell within a virgin's womb. 

The tyrant Death before Thee flew, 
And heaven unbarred, her foldings drew, 
To guide the faithful in Thy way, 
From God's right hand Thy beams display; 

Thou art to judge both quick and dead ; 

Spare us, for whom Thy blood was shed. 

Oh ! grant us, with the saints above, 
To share Thy everlasting love ; 



HYMNS. 



629 



Save, Lord, Thy people, and enhance 
Thy grace on Thy inheritance. 

For ever rule and guide their wa} r s ; 

Each day we'll chant aloud Thy praise. 

No age shall fail t' extol Thy name, 
No hour neglect Thy lasting fame. 
Preserve us, Lord, this day from ill, 
Have mercy, Lord, have mercy still. 

As we have hoped, so crown our pain ; 

Let not our hope in Thee be vain. 



THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS. 

JESUS, the only thought of Thee, 
With sweetness fills my breast ; 
But sweeter far it is to see, 
And on Thy beauty feast. 
No sound, no harmony so £ay. 

Can art of music frame ; 
No thoughts can reach, no words can say, 
The sweets of Thy blessed name. 

Jesus, our hope when we repent ; 

Sweet source of all our grace ; 
Sole comfort in our banishment ■ 

Oh what, when face to face ! 
Jesus, that name inspires my mind 

With springs of life and light, 
More than I ask in Thee I find, 

I'm ravished with delight. 

No art or eloquence of man 

Can tell the joys of love : 
Only the saints can understand, 

What they in Jesus prove. 
Thee then I'll seek retired apart, 

From world and business free ; 



630 



HYMNS. 



When these shall knock, I'll ^hut my heart , 
And keep it all for Thee. 

Before the morning light I'll come 

With Magdalen, to find, 
In sighs and tears, my Jesus' tomb, 

And there refresh my mind. 
My tears upon His grave shall flow, 

My sighs the garden fill ; 
Then at His feet myself I'll throw ; 

And there I'll seek His will. 

Jesus, in Thy blessed steps I'll tread, 

And walk in all Thy ways ; 
I'll never cease to weep and plead, 

Till I'm restored to grace. 
O King of love ! Thy blessed fire 

Does such sweet flames excite, 
That first it raises the desire, 

Then fills it with delight. 



ASPIRATIONS BEFORE COMMUNION. 
Air—" Goutez, ames" &c 

MY God, my life, my love, 
To Thee, to Thee I call ; 
Oh, come to me from heaven above, 
And be my God, my all 

My faith beholds Thee, Lord, 
Concealed in human food ; 

My senses fail ; but in Thy word 
I trust, and find my God. 

Oh, when wilt Thou be mine, 

Sweet lover of my soul. 
My Jesus dear, my King divine ; 

Come o'er my heart to rule. 



HYMNS. 



63L 



Oli ! come, and fix Thy throne, 
In the midst of my heart ; 

Oli ! make it burn for Thee alone, 
And from thence ne r er depart. 

Begone ye from my mind, 
Vain childish earthly toys ; 

In my Jesus alone I find 
True pleasures, solid joys. 



after eoapnjNioK. 

HAT happiness can equal mine ! 



▼ » I've found the object of my love ; 
My Jesus dear, my King divine, 

Is come to me from heaven above : 
He makes my heart His own abode, 
He there becomes my daily bread, 
There on me flows His healing blood, 
There, with His flesh my soul is f ed. 

I am my Love's, and He is mine, 

In me He dwells, in Him I live : 
What greater treasure could I find ? 

And could ye Heavens, a greater give ! 
O sacred banquet, heavenly feast ! 

O overflowing source of grace ; 
Where God the food, and man the guest, 

Meet, and unite in sweet embrace ; 

Ye angels, lend your heavenly tongues, 
Come, and with me in praises join ; 

Come, and unite in thankful songs, 
Your sweet immortal voice with mine. 

Oh ! that I had your burning hearts, 
To love my God, my spouse most dear ! 




HYMNS. 



Oh ! that ye would, with flaming darts, 
Raise in my heart a heavenly fire. 

Dear Jesus ! now my heart is Thine, 

Oh, may it from Thee never fly ! 
Hold it with chains of love divine, 

Make it be Thine eternally. 
Vain objects ! that seduced my soul, 

I now despise your fleeting charms ; 
In vain temptation's billows roll : 

I lie secure in Jesus' arms. 



HYMN TO THE HOLY CHILD JESUS. 

JESUS, teach me how to' pray, 
Suffer not my thoughts to stray. 
Send distractions far away, 

Sweet, holy Child. 

Let me not be rude or wild, 
Make me humble, meek, and mild, 
Pure as angels undefiled, 

Sweet, holy Child. 

When I work or when I play, 

Be Thou with me through the day, 

Teach me what to do and saj% 

Sweet, holy Child. 

Make me love Thy Mother blessed, 
Safe beneath her care to rest, 
As a bird within its nest, 

Sweet, holy Child. 

When the hour of death is nigh, 
Then may Mary, standing by, 
Take me in her arms to die, 

Sweet, holy Child 



HYMNS. 



633 



So through all eternity, 
Will I bless their charity, 
Who first led my steps to Thee, 
Sweet, holy child. 



HYMN OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. 

Which St. Jane Frances often sang and repeated with much 
devotion. 

(Adoro te devote, latens DeUas.) 

O GODHEAD hid, devoutly I adore Thee, 
Who truly art within the forms before me; 
To Thee my heart I bow with bended knee, 
As failing quite in contemplating Thee. 

Sight, touch, and taste, in Thee are all deceived; 
The ear alone most safely is believed; 
I believe all the Son of God has spoken : 
Than truth's own word there is no truer token. 

God only on the cross lay hid from view; 
But here lies hid at once the Manhood too : 
And I, in both professing my belief, 
Make the same prayer as the repentant thief. 

Thy wounds, as Thomas saw, I do not see, 
Yet Thee confess my Lord and God to be; 
Make me believe Thee ever more and more, 
In Thee my hope, in Thee my love and store. 

0 Thou memorial of our Lord's own dying ! 
0 living Bread to mortals life supplying! 
Make Thou my soul henceforth on Thee to live, 
Ever a taste of heavenly sweetness give. 



634 



0 loving Pelican! d Jesus, Lord! 
Unclean I am, but cleanse me in Thy blood; 
Of which a single drop for sinners spilt, 
Can purge the entire world from all its guilt. 

Jesus ! whom for the present veiled I see, 
What I so thirst for, oh ! vouchsafe to me, 
That I may see Thy countenance unfolding, 
And may be blessed Thy glory in beholding. 

(The following is usually sung after every stanza.) 
Jesus, eternal Shepherd! hear our cry; 
Increase the faith of all whose souls on Thee rely. 



HYMN TO THE INFANT JESUS. 

WHAT lovely Infant can this be, 
That in the little crib I see? 
So sweetly on the straw it lies, 
It must have come from paradise. 

"Who is that Lady kneeling by, 
And gazing on so tenderly ? 
Oh ! that is Mary ever blessed ; 
How full of joy her holy breast! 

What man is that who seems to smile, 
And look so blissful all the while ? 
'Tis holy Joseph, good and true; 
The Infant makes him happy too. 

What makes the crib so bright and clear? 
What voices sing so sweetly here? 
Ah ! see behind the window pana 
The little angels looking i n i 



HYMNS. 



635 



Who arc these people kneeling down, 
With crooked sticks and hands so brown? 
The shepherds. On the mountain top 
The little angels woke them up. 

The ox and ass, how still and mild 
They stand beside the holy child; 
His little body underneath 
They warm so kindly with their breath. 

Hail, holy cave! though dark thou be, 
The world is lighted up by Thee. 
Hail, holy Babe ! Creation stands 
And moves upon Thy little hands. 



COMMUNION. 

1. S~\ HAPPY flowers ! 0 happy flowers ! 
V_/ How quietly for hours and hours, 
In dead of night, in cheerful day, 
Close to my own dear Lord you stay, 
Until you gently fade away! 

0 happy flowers, what would I give 
In your sweet place all day to live, 
And then to die, my service o'er, 
Softly as you do, at His door ! 

2. 0 happy lights! 0 happy lights! 
Watching my Jesus livelong nights, 
How close you cluster round His throne, 
Dying so meekly one by one, 

And each its faithful watch has done. 
Could I with you but take my turn, 
And burn with love of Him, and burn 
Till love had wasted me, like you— 
Sweet lights, what better could I do? 



636 



HYMNS. 



3. 0 happy Pyx ! 0 happy Pyx ! 

Where Jesus doth His dwelling fix; 

0 little palace! dear and bright, 
Where He, who is the world s true light, 
Spends all the day, and stays all night! 
Ah ! if my heart could only be 

A little home for Him like thee. 

Such fires my happy soul would move. 

1 could not help but die of love! 

L 0 Pyx, and lights, and flowers! but I 
Through envy of you will not die: 
Nay, happy things! what will you do, 
For I am better off than you 
The whole day long, the whole night through; 
For Jesus gives Himself to me, 
So sweetly and so utterly, 
By rights long since I should have died 
For love of Jesus crucified. 

5. My happy soul! my happy soul 
How shall I then my love control? 
0 sweet Communion ! Feast of bliss ! 
When the dear Host my tongue doth kiss, 
What happiness is like to this? 
0 heaven, I think, must be alway 
Quite like a First Communion Day; 
With love so sweet, and joy so strange — 
Only that heaven will never change. (Faber.) 

The above ^ines beautifully express the devotional sentiments of St. Jane 
Frances. She always had some of the bouquets which had withered belorc 
the Blessed Sacrament. Color and scent, said she, are the liie of those 
flowers. I send them before the Blessed Sacrament, where in a short time 
they will wither and die away. I desire to do the like, and that my hie, 
which is gradually passing, may finish before God, while honoring ting 
mvstery of the Church. 



HYMNS. 



637 



IIAIL, HEAVENLY QUEEN". 

HAUL, heavenly Queen ! hail, foamy ocean's star, 
Oh! be our guide, diffuse thy beams afar, 
Hail, Mother of God ! above all virgins blessed; 
Hail, happy gate of Heaven's eternal rest! 

Hail, foamy ocean's star ! Hail, heavenly Queen! 
Oh ! be our guide to endless joys unseen. 

Hail, full of grace, with Gabriel we repeat: 
Thee, Queen of heaven, from him we learn to greet; 
Then give us peace, which heaven alone can give; 
And dead through Eve, through Mary, let us live. 
Hail, foamy ocean's star, &g. 

Oh ! break our chains, thy guilty slaves release; 
Oh ! give us light, and let our blindness cease; 
Let every ill that preys upon our hearts, 
Fly at thy voice, which every good imparts. 
Hail, foamy ocean's star, &c. 

Thy children save — 0 gracious Mother hear! 
From brimful eyes, oh ! deign to wipe the tear; 
Our anxious prayers to God thy Son present, 
Whose life and blood for sinful man were spent. 
Hail, foamy ocean's star, &c. 

0 Virgin meek ! alone of all mankind, 
In whom not God can stain or blemish find, 
From satan's chains our captive souls set free, 
And be our lives from sin exempt by thee. 
Hail, foamy ocean's star, &o. 

Our life unstained, in purity preserve, 
And ne'er permit our ways from truth to swerve; 
That when our time has rolled its rapid round, 
We may, with Christ, in heavenly bliss be crowned. 
Hail, foamy ocean's star,*&c. 



638 



HYMNS. 



Eternal praise to God the Father be; 
Eternal praise to Christ's dread majesty; 
Eternal praise the Holy Ghost attend, 
To God triune, be glory without end. 
Hail foamy ocean's star, Ac. 



HYMN TO ST. JOSEPH. 

DEAH husband of Mary! dear nurse of her child ! 
Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild ; 
Bleak sands are all round us, no home can we see; 
Sweet spouse of our Lady ! we lean upon thee; 

For thou to the pilgrim art father and guide, 
And Jesus and Mary felt safe by thy side : 
Ah ! blessed Saint Joseph ! how safe should I be, 
Sweet spouse of our Lady ! if thou wert with me ! 

0 blessed Saint Joseph ! how great was thy worth, 
The one chosen shadow of God upon earth, 
The father of Jesus — ah ! then wilt thou be, 
Sweet spouse of our Lady ! a father to me? 

Thou hast not forgotten the long dreary road, 
When Mary took turns with thee, bearing thy God; 
Yet light was thy burden, none lighter could be: 
Sweet spouse of our Lady ! oh, canst thou bear me? 

A cold thankless heart, and a mean love of ease, 
What weights, blessed Patron! more galling than these 
My life, my past life, thy clear vision may see; 
Sweet spouse of our Lady ! canst thou love me ? 

Ah ! give me thy burden to bear for a while; 
Let me kiss His warm lips and adore His sweet smile; 
With her Babe in my arms, surely Mary will be, 
Sweet spouse of our Lad^ ! my pleader with thee. 



HYMNS. 



6 



When the treasures of God were unsheltered on eartK 
Safe keeping was found for them both in th/» \F^rtL \ 
0 Father of Jesus ! be father to me ; 
Sweet spouse of our Lady ! and I will love theft. 

God chose thee for Jesus and Mary — wilt thou 
Forgive a poor exile for choosing thee now? 
There is no Saint in heaven I worship like thee, 
Sweet spouse of our Lacly ! oh, deign to love me ! {Fuie 



HTMN TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES. 
1. rriHBONED above lis, Sainted Father, 



From thy throne eternal bending, 
On thy children now look down, 

St. Jane's prayers with ours are blending, 
May we prove thy joy, thy crown. 

2. In the hearts of unbelievers, 

Thou didst sow the seed divine j 
Perils had no power to hinder; 
Death to daunt a soul like thine. 

Cnours — From thy throne, <£c. 

3. From thy burning heart's recesses, 

Brightly beamed its flame around, 
Kot a fibre trembled in it 
To an earthly, selfish sound. 

Chorus — From thy throne, <£c. 



J- All thy days of trial passed, 
Labors, conflicts, perils, over, 
Lo! the palm is thine at last. 




CHORUS. 



640 



HYMNS. 



4. Meek and gen lie was thy bearing, 

Sweetness from thy lips distilled. 
And the peace of heaven rested 
Where thy hand a sorrow healed. 

Chorus — From thy throne, <tc. 

5. Love of God and love fraternal 

Mingled in thy gentle breast; 
From their sweetness sprang the order, 
In whose loving arms we rest. 

Chorus — From thy throne, &c, 

G. While on earth thy days still lingered, 
Thou hast looked on us and smiled; 
Father! still in heaven watch o'er us — 
Each who names thee is thy child. 

Chorus— From thy throne, &c, 

7. In the Saviour's heart thou showest 

Each her place of sweet retreat; 
Oh ! may all through life fast winging, 
In that heart our Father meet. 

Chorus — From thy throne, <fcc. 

8. Till that union be perfected 

In the land of love divine, 
We, in life and death, dear Father, 
To thy care our souls resign. 

Chorus — From thy throne, <fcc. 

0. Glory throughout endless ages, 
To the triune God above, 
Who hath led us out from darkness, 
By our Father's hand of love. 

Chorus— From thy throne, &c. 



iSilf n 4 

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